Bishop Alphonse Quesnel of Fort Liberté, Haiti, said the Haitian church was “stunned” by the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse.

Catholic institutions including schools and universities closed Wednesday across Haiti in a three-day protest to demand the release of five priests, two nuns and two other people kidnapped more than a week ago.

Haiti is the birthplace of what we now know as the Americas, but the majority-Black nation has continuously suffered neglect and outright abuse.

Officials reported that at least 12 people had died as Tropical Storm Laura lashed Haiti and the Dominican Republic with strong winds and torrential rains, causing widespread flooding in low-lying communities.

Under a program called the Partnership for the Reconstruction of the Church in Haiti--PROCHE--the American Catholic Church, through financial donations, is assisting Haiti in rebuilding churches and schools which have been damaged during the 2010 earthquake.

In a country that has known its share of disasters and social upheaval, Haiti is trying to prepare for the pandemic as best as possible.