Sister Myriam Deslourdes, 20, and Sister Marie des Anges, 31, catholic novices were left alone to care for 64 children at the Centre du Christ Misericordieux in Pernier, a locality east of Port-au-Prince. The novices had to care for the school, the dispensary and the orphanage while international staff was evacuated during the civil unrest and armed rebellion that toppled the government of deposed president Aristide.