Group violence deprives Haiti of a return to normality and encourages the flight of the country's vital forces out of the countryGeneral Assembly President Dennis Francis said Monday during an informal briefing on the Caribbean country in New York.
Francis visited Haiti on November 20 and 21 to meet with members of the interim government, including Prime Minister Ariel Henry; the Foreign Minister Jean Victor Généus; Justice Minister Emmelie Prophet Milce; and the Minister for Women Sofía Loréus.
The lack of security dominated all discussions, reported the President of the General Assembly. The “terror of gangs” affects all aspects of daily life of the Haitian people, “depriving them of their freedoms and rights” and stifling the country’s march toward sustainable development.
The Speaker spoke of schools converted into shelters and homes for people displaced by gang violence, as well as parents kidnapped for ransom while accompanying their children to school.
“I have heard alarming reports about this Loss of about 40% of Haiti's health workforceMany of them left the country in the hope of finding a better future elsewhere.”
He also referred to the complaints of Women and girls exposed to brutal sexual violence. “This violence in Haiti must clearly stop,” emphasized Francis, warning that the international community would lose credibility by turning a blind eye.
Hundreds of police are trying to flee the country
For her part, the UN Special Representative for Haiti, María Isabel Salvador, confirmed that the The uncertainty has worsened in 2023 in the country.
Salvador reported on this in his participation via video conference Increase in murders, kidnappings and incidents of sexual violence and gender compared to the previous year.
He also noted that the Haitian National Police's ability to address this growing insecurity is declining.
This year alone, more than 1,600 agents left this force, most of them in search of opportunities to emigratesaid the head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti.
Isabel added that the remaining officers were dealing with a dire situation inadequate equipment, training and salarieswhich significantly impairs its effectiveness against increasingly well-equipped armed gangs.
The catastrophic security situation and loss of trust in the police have forced some Haitians to band together self-defense groups, Indian.
The Emigration goes beyond the police and permeates all areas of societyhe added.
Political disagreements
At the political level there is still significant differences in the changeover approach.
In this context, Francis continues to hope for the deployment of the Multinational Security Assistance Mission, approved by the Security Council on October 2, as well as political parties and civil society groups.
Currently, The gangs control 80% of the capital, Prince Port. According to the United Nations, their control extends even further into rural areas that were previously considered safe: “They kill, rape, kidnap and destroy property,” emphasized the President of the General Assembly.
As the mission prepares for deployment, Haiti's civil and political actors must redouble their efforts to enable the restoration of democratic institutions and give the mission space to play its role, he added.
Francis called on Haiti's political elites to abandon their “selfish concerns.” and “prioritizing the citizens of Haiti who have endured too much and deserve a chance to succeed.”
Danger of famine
Haiti is one of nine countries worldwide at risk of famine. There are 4.35 million people suffer from food insecurityone of the worst rates in the world relative to the country's population.
“We almost see one Collapse of basic social services, such as healthcare and education. An estimated one million children are out of school, increasing the risk of gang recruitment,” said Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Deputy Director Victoria Saiz Omenaca.
The hospitals and Health workers are now targets of violence: Last week, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) announced the suspension of its activities at the Turgeau emergency center in Port-au-Prince.