Resilience in the face of displacement: Tophley's story
It was when Tophley was forced to flee her neighbourhood in Port-au-Prince under pressure from armed gangs, that she found out she was pregnant. She sought refuge at her father-in-law's house in Jérémie, a city that has welcomed many internally displaced families.
In January 2024, nearly 314,000 people were forced to leave their homes to seek refuge elsewhere in the country. In early 2025, intensified gang attacks caused the displacement of a further 203,789 people.
Pregnant, vulnerable, yet determined, Tophley turned to small-scale trading to survive, selling whatever she could find at local markets, from fruits to vegetables. Her partner, meanwhile, struggled to make ends meet.
As she awaited the birth of her baby, Tophley felt lost, often reflecting on her life in Port-au-Prince before gangs spread overwhelming terror; although exposed to stray bullets and ongoing threats of neighbourhood takeovers, she was at least close to her loved ones.
Tophley's life took a different turn when she got involved in the OCHA and ActionAid project, Strengthening Food Security and the Resilience of Displaced Households.
“I was so happy when my name was selected for the program. I told myself that my baby would not be born without me having something to feed them,” she says.
The program supported 300 households in the commune of Roseaux, in Jérémie, including Tophley’s family. Each household received the equivalent of USD 450 in Haitian gourdes, seeds, and agricultural tools accompanied by technical support for those able to grow crops, as well as three goats per family.
With the program’s financial support, Tophley was able to develop a business plan and start a small business. Today, she proudly runs a small stand where neighbours and passersby can find essential goods. She both meets her immediate needs with dignity while strengthening her autonomy and resilience to crisis.
After months of fear and uncertainty, the tranquillity of Roseaux offered Tophley and her family a rare sense of safety and peace. She proudly takes care of her small family and hopes soon to grow her business by selling cosmetics.
There is hope for families like Tophley's if advocacy efforts by ActionAid and other NGOs are effective at focusing on gender responsive public services that are aware of gender based violence and the experiences of displaced people.
