Holt International announces cessation of operations in Haiti

It is with heavy hearts that we announce that after more than 20 years of serving children and families in Haiti, Holt International will be indefinitely suspending its family strengthening and orphan care programs, effective April 1st.

Since February 28, the security situation in Haiti has deteriorated significantly. Criminal gangs now control 80% of Port-au-Prince and have blocked access to the ports and all major roads in, out, and around the city. Rising tensions led to the resignation of the Haitian Prime Minister, and it is unknown when there will be an interim government to bring stability to the country. As a result, Holt has reassessed its ability to deliver services in Haiti effectively, safely, and ethically. Holt International, as a global child protection organization, is not equipped or staffed to respond during a humanitarian crisis of the magnitude currently unfolding in Haiti. Ensuring the safety and well-being of our Haitian staff, partners, and the people we serve is our top priority, and unfortunately, we are no longer able to implement programs or provide services to children and families in a way that ensures the safety of our teams and partners on the ground.

The decision to cease operations was not made lightly, particularly given that it is during times of crisis that we see the greatest need—especially among the most vulnerable. Therefore, we will continue to monitor and evaluate our ability to deliver programs and services and will reconsider this decision when the situation stabilizes, which will not be in the foreseeable future.

Holt continues to process adoptions from Haiti. Currently, several families are in the process of adopting a child from Haiti, and several children have already been matched with those families. Our teams in the U.S. and Haiti will do everything possible to ensure that these children can be safely returned to their families in the U.S. through ethical and Hague-compliant processes. Holt has closed the Haiti adoption program to new applicants.

As we suspend our family strengthening and orphan care programs in Haiti, we are immensely proud of the outstanding work and profound impact our staff, partners, sponsors and donors have had on the lives of thousands of children and families in Haiti. Since 2003, Holt has worked to strengthen families to prevent family separation; supports orphaned and at-risk children with education, nutrition and health programs; and helps place children in permanent, loving families through international adoption. In more than two decades in Haiti, Holt has served nearly 20,000 children through our family strengthening and orphan care programs and placed over 110 children through international adoption.

— Press release 28.03.24