In Haiti, thousands of people have died or been injured in the chaos precipitated by gang wars that broke out at the end of February. Members of a newly formed transitional presidential council — responsible for selecting a new prime minister — issued their first official statement this week, vowing to restore “public and democratic order.”

New Jersey is home to one of the largest Haitian American communities in the U.S. whose members say the ongoing humanitarian crisis has left them distraught.

“Haiti has been suffering like this for many, many years, be it natural disaster, be it political turmoil. I mean, you know, dating back to the 1700s, we have been struggling with political instability for a very long time. It’s not new to Haiti,” said Stanley Neron, co-executive director for New Jersey for Haiti.