The situation in Haiti is deteriorating each passing day. Doctors without Borders have raised concerns on the dire situation where displaced civilians and police lack necessities such as water and toilets.
Speaking to CNN, the Doctors without Borders noted that it would be hard for foreign troops backing Haiti to succeed without basic amenities.
“There is no toilet available, no shower available, no water available…they cannot stay for long,” one of the doctors stated.
According to an official from the country’s Civil Protection, hospitals have been the main target by the gangs.
“Hospitals have been targeted by gangs. Only one public hospital is still operating in Port-au-Prince’s metropolitan area,” the official stated.
At the same time, the United Nations has raised concerns over the worsening situation.
“We remain deeply concerned by the rapidly deteriorating security situation amid ongoing gang violence and sporadic confrontations between heavily armed gangs and police forces in some parts of Port-au-Prince,” Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, said.
Also Read: Why Deployed Kenyan Police are Running Away from Haiti
Haiti Gangs launch fresh attacks near national palace
Heavy gunfire was experienced on March 8, 2024, near Haiti’s national palace in its capital of Port-au-Prince, coming days after gangs broke two prisons, allowing inmates to escape.
The government vowed to capture kidnappers, escaped murders, and other dangerous criminals, and promptly imposed a 72-hour state of emergency.
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“The Government of the Republic, referring to the decree of March 3, 2024, declares a state of emergency throughout the western department for a renewable period of seventy-two hours,” read part of the statement.
“In order to restore the order and to take appropriate measures to regain control of the situation, it decrees a curfew throughout this territory between six in the evening and five in the morning on March 4th 20224 to March 6th, 2024.”
Following the chaos that broke out on Friday, the United Nations said hour later that the country’s police was “able to push back coordinated gang attacks on key infrastructures, including the airport.”
Also Read: Haiti Declares State of Emergency After Prison Break
Haiti declared a state of emergency March 4, after fighting escalated.
PM Visit to Kenya
An estimated 10,000 people were displaced while the Prime Minister was in Kenya signing a deal with President William Ruto.
According to the agreement, Kenya is to send at least 1,000 police to Haiti to help quell the chaos – a move that has sparked criticism in Nairobi.
News from a law enforcement source indicated that gangs had launched a large-scale assault against multiple government buildings in or near downtown Port-au-Prince early on that evening.
“The attack was coordinated and swift, with different groups simultaneously targeting multiple government buildings including the presidential palace, the interior ministry and a police headquarters for Haiti’s western district, which includes Port-au-Prince,” the source explained.
Ariel Henry was to leave office in February but instead agreed to a power-sharing deal with the opposition until new elections are held.
