UNITED NATIONS, Nov 20, CMC – The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Haiti, Ulrika Richardson, Wedesday said that gang violence in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country continues to escalate, displacing thousands from Port-au-Prince and straining already limited aid resource.
Speaking to journalists from Port au Prince, Richardson spoke of the worsening situation in Haiti, which has deteriorated dramatically since the installation of a new Prime Minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé on November 11.
The UN said the verified toll of gang violence this year has reached more than 4,000 dead, though the actual numbers are likely higher, and an estimated 700,000 people are internally displaced across Haiti – half of them children currently unable to continue their schooling.
“We see just over the past few days, thousands of people who have had to again leave their homes,” said Richardson, expressing grave concern over escalating killings, lynchings, and territorial gains by gangs who are now consolidating their grip on the capital.
Despite immense challenges, humanitarian operations continue and the UN is committed to stay and deliver for the people of Haiti.
The UN has been delivering daily meals, clean water, and medical care to displaced populations and Richardson said “the support has been extremely intense during very, very difficult operations”.
Following disruptions caused by the airport closure, UN humanitarian helicopters resumed flights this week, allowing for the delivery of essential supplies and the relocation of personnel within Haiti.
“(We are) trying, of course, to relocate many of our international staff to the departments so that we can continue the development work we are carrying out throughout the country,” Richardson explained.
In statement released later on Wednesday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk also expressed deep concern over the intensification of violence in the capital Port-au-Prince, where a coalition of gangs is vying for full control of the city.
Over the past week alone, at least 150 people have been killed, 92 injured, and about 20,000 forced to flee their homes.
“Port-au-Prince’s estimated four million people are practically being held hostage as gangs now control all the main roads in and out of the capital,”Türk said.
On Tuesday, the UN Secretary-General Sntonio Guterres reiterated his call for member states to bolster support for the Multinational Security Support mission (MSS) backing Haiti’s police force and led by officers from Kenya.
“Gang violence must not prevail over the institutions of the State. Concrete steps must be taken to bolster the Haitian police force and support the Multinational Security Support mission in Haiti to protect the population and to restore effective rule of law,” Türk said.
Richardson highlighted a recent incident where gangs attempted to seize control of Petionville but were repelled by police and residents.
“That shows also both the intention but also the capacity of the [police], to actually gain territory throughout the capital,” she said, praising the bravery of local law enforcement while acknowledging the significant challenges they face.
“We call upon member states to put the needed support behind the Multinational Security Support mission so that it can in turn support the national police, but also to enable us to do our humanitarian assistance,” she added.
Police spokesman, Lionel Lazarre, said at least 28 suspected gang members were killed as police and civilian self-defense groups clashed with the gangs in an overnight operation, as the government seeks seeks to regain control of the capital.
Police and members of the Kenya-led multinational security mission had been on heightened alert for days amid the threats and constant gun battles around Port-au-Prince.
Gang leader Jimmy Chérizier, who is known as “Barbecue” said Tuesday that the gangs would now be targeting hotels that harbour politicians.
“A hotel that is hiding politicians, if we can’t take the hotel, if I can’t find the owner of the hotel then the employees of the hotel can pay,” he said in video clip shared on social media.
The United Sates says incidents of armed violence and disruptions to ports and airports are widespread in Haiti and warned that the security situation in the country “is unpredictable and dangerous”.
The US embassy in its latest security alert bulletin said that barricades have been put up in many neighbourhoods and normal traffic patterns are disrupted.
CMC/af/ir/2024