PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Bishop Pierre-André Dumas of the Diocese of Anse-à-Veau et Miragoâne sustained “serious burns” to his face, arms, and legs after being caught in the crossfire of escalating violence in Haiti. The Caribbean nation has been in turmoil since the assassination of Prime Minister Claude Joseph in 2021, with unrest reaching dangerous levels.
According to Aid to the Church in Need, Bishop Dumas was visiting Port-au-Prince when the house he was staying in was affected by an explosion, the cause of which is still unknown. Authorities have not yet determined if the explosion was due to a gas leak or criminal activity.
The Secretariat of the Episcopal Conference of Haiti (CEH) has confirmed that Bishop Dumas is in stable condition, but he sustained “serious burns” to his face, arms, and legs. The president of the Bishops’ Conference in Haiti, Archbishop Max Leroy Mesidor of Port au Prince, has requested prayers for Bishop Dumas’ quick recovery.
Haiti has long been plagued by gang violence and criminal activity, with a recent UN report labeling January 2024 as “the bloodiest month in over two years,” during which “1,108 people were killed, injured, or kidnapped.” Another report from 2023 found that “2,327 people were killed, injured or kidnapped” between October and December, with an estimated total of 8,400 victims of violence or captivity throughout the entire year.
The Haitian Bishops’ Conference has called for an end to the violence, stating, “Blood and tears have flown too much through the assassinations, kidnappings, and violence perpetrated in the past three years … We have suffered enough! Close the blood valve and stop counting the dead!” They have urged the people to unite and commit themselves to a path that will lead to the new Haiti that they all desire.