Gema Cortes

We are utterly heartbroken by learning of the brutal killing of two wonderful NRC colleagues yesterday in Port‑au‑Prince, Haiti. Our two colleagues, Bonaparte Février and Richard Alexandre, were cherished friends and colleagues within our NRC family in Haiti and across the world. They worked tirelessly as key members of our heroic Haiti team to prevent and alleviate the growing suffering of their fellow Haitians. We mourn with their families and condemn the senseless violence that took the lives of two young men who only wished to provide aid and protection to vulnerable communities that suffer so much from the endemic violence and displacement that has engulfed so many in Haiti. We call on all parties concerned, including Haitian authorities as well as the international community, to do everything in their power to protect civilians, uphold international law, and prevent further violence. Neither the Haitian society nor the outside world can tolerate that civilians, including aid workers, are killed with impunity. We owe it to Bonaparte and Richard to continue their humanitarian mission in Haiti and to bear witness to the atrocities there. They will always be remembered and we will always be grateful for their vital contribution to our humanitarian work in Haiti and elsewhere.