Gang-related violence in Haiti: a situation close to “Mad Max”, according to Unicef
The situation in Haiti is “horrible” and “almost out of a scene from ‘Mad Max'”, a film which depicts a post-apocalyptic future, the executive director of Unicef said on Sunday. This poor Caribbean country is currently facing gang violence.
Published on 03/18/2024 at 07:57
“Many, many people are suffering from serious hunger and malnutrition, and we are not able to provide them with enough help,” Catherine Russell said in an interview with the American channel CBS.
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Haiti and in particular its capital Port-au-Prince have been the scene of an outbreak of gang violence in recent weeks, while Haitians await the establishment of a presidential transitional council after the announcement of the resignation of the Prime Minister challenged Ariel Henry, who now handles current affairs.
On Sunday, the curfew was extended until Wednesday in the West department, which includes Port-au-Prince. The state of emergency is due to end on April 3.
Kenya, which must deploy a thousand police officers as part of a multinational security mission, announced that it would suspend the sending of its men, but assured that it would intervene once a presidential council was installed. The gangs control entire swaths of the country, including 80% of the capital, and are accused of numerous abuses, in particular murders, rapes, and kidnappings for ransom.
“One way or another, we have to take more control of the situation, so as to get aid in” in Haiti, argued Catherine Russell on Saturday, citing the litany of disasters that have affected the country since almost 15 years: “earthquakes, cholera, Covid…”. The current situation “is the worst anyone has seen in decades,” she added.
While the Port-au-Prince airport remains closed, the UN mission in Haiti announced Wednesday the establishment as soon as possible of an “air bridge” between Haiti and the neighboring Dominican Republic by helicopter, particularly to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid. The capital’s main port has also been at a standstill since March 7, facing acts of “sabotage and vandalism” according to its operator, complicating the delivery of international aid.
Gang-related violence in Haiti: resignation of Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry
A Unicef container, “including crucial maternal, neonatal and child health supplies”, was looted on Saturday at this port, the UN agency announced in a press release. “This incident comes at a critical time, when children need it most,” Unicef added.
