15 Killed in Fire at an Unlicensed Orphanage in Haiti

At least 15 children were killed in a fire at an unlicensed Haiti orphanage run by a US-based religious nonprofit group. The fire swept overnight, beginning on Thursday evening, burning the Orphanage of the Church of Bible Understanding in Port Au Prince. Two children died in the fire, while 13 others died in the hospital due to smoke inhalation.

A child who lived in the orphanage said they were using candles because the generator was not working. Fire officials are now investigating whether it could have started the flames. According to Haiti's chief of child protection for UNICEF Jennifer Melton, about 60 children survived the fire.

Orphanage of the Church of Bible Understanding

The Orphanage of the Church of Bible Understanding has been operating without any license or authorization from the Haiti government since 1977. According to their website, the orphanage initially housed 6 children when it started 40 years ago with their primary goal "to spread the Gospel to any and all who will receive it." They now own 2 houses with 150 children. They also started supporting smaller houses in Haiti with food deliveries and aid.

Operating Without a License?

Authorization to operate was stripped from the facility after inspection said it did not meet basic standards. The living conditions were described as "truly neglected" with the children "living like animals." The building also lacked fire extinguishers.

In a tweet by Haiti's President Jovenel Moise, he said he was "deeply moved" by the death of the children. He also asked officials to "adopt urgent measures" to determine the cause of the blaze.

Survivors of the fire will be placed in a transit center while the Institute for Social Welfare will tries to reconnect the children with their parents.

Orphanages in Haiti

Orphanages in Haiti are called children's centers, often housing children who have a living parent who can't financially support them.

These orphanages grew in demand after the 2010 Haiti earthquake that killed thousands of people. Of the 754 institutions, only 35 are officially authorized to run. The government has barred more from opening and has closed roughly 160 over the last five years.

Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world, with nearly 60% of its inhabitants barely surviving on less than $2.40 a day.

Many Haitian parents send their children to orphanages or wealthy individuals due to poverty and lack of access to basic healthcare and other services. Those children are often taken in as servants and neglected proper education.

In a report written by Lumos, a charity founded by author JK Rowling, physical and sexual abuse is also rampant in the orphanages. Some are trafficked into orphanages to attract investors and wealthy individuals to donate. The charity was founded in an aim to remove children from neglected orphanages and reconnect them with their families.

According to Lumos, more than 760 orphanages in Haiti house 30,000 children. However, only 15% of these facilities are officially registered and authorized.

JK Rowling hopes to end the institutionalization of children. In an October 2019 conference, Rowling has called on young people to stop volunteering in overseas orphanages who might be cruel to children.

She also urged young people to stop "orphanage tourism", once a trend where tourists help in orphanages as part of their travel experience.