ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Federal Aviation Administration continues to prohibit flights to Haiti because of gang violence there.

It’s causing problems for the island’s most vulnerable residents.

What You Need To Know

  • Grounded flights in Haiti prevents needed aid from reaching the most vulnerable  

  • The only hospital in Haiti that treats children and at-risk mothers, St. Damien Pediatric Hospital, needs continued support to support Haiti’s children and at-risk mothers and babies

  • Visit NPHUSA.org/helpstdamien to make a donation

The gang violence has escalated to the skies, as three planes were shot, triggering the FAA to halt U.S. airlines from flying to Haiti for 30 days and the United Nations to temporarily suspend flights to Port-au-Prince.

And that is drastically limiting the transport of much needed humanitarian aid to that country.

“These people are very good, kind, loving people. And they don't want to be caught in gang warfare,” said fundraiser Angelo Rose talking about the people of Haiti and his efforts to support the only children’s hospital on the island.

“St. Damien is a unique one of one institute inside of Haiti that specializes in taking care of children and high-risk pregnancy mothers," Rose said. "So many hospitals, many have left. So many NGOs and so many organizations have left Haiti in the last 10 years. St. Damien has not. They stand sometimes alone in the face of all this turmoil to help children."

The Rochester musician and attorney is helping to raise money for St. Damien Hospital, which is in even more need right now because of the recent escalation of gang violence in Haiti.

“So they're still running and it's very dangerous," Rose said. "I mean, there's just no way around saying that right now. The gangs are trying to seize control of areas within Port-au-Prince."

St. Damien Hospital relies on aid which is now limited after gangs opened fire flights landing in Port-au-Prince, prompting Haiti’s international airport to temporarily shut down.

“Of course, it makes it more difficult. But what was remarkable to me is two things," Rose said. "The people on the ground there who are trying to help, specifically this hospital that I can speak from, firsthand knowledge of being there. They're fearless. They never stop moving forward for these children. And the people of Haiti themselves are so resilient."

He adds that NPH.org and St. Damien Hospital need continued support to support Haiti’s children and at-risk mothers and babies.

“I believe firmly that they will not stop functioning and that they desperately need right now, my gosh, do they need money for supplies which are dwindling," Rose said. "And particularly children suffering who will die without our help.”

If you’d like to help, you can visit NPHUSA.org/helpstdamien to make a donation.

Rose says all funds go directly to the resources needed the most and will help those children most in need.

It’s estimated hundreds of thousands of Haitians are displaced as this humanitarian crisis deepens. More than half of those are children.

The U.S. Department of State has a current travel advisory that states that Americans should not travel to Haiti due to kidnapping, crime, civil unrest and limited health care.