Haitians fight for survival amid violence

Thousands of criminals escaped after two prisons were attacked. Strategic places like the National Palace or the central police station were stormed by armed gangs. Violent clashes between gangs and police have lasted for two weeks. And the disowned Prime Minister resigned on Monday March 11. The weeks go by and hell continues in Haiti.

Faced with this, the population is “bloodless” according to Hervé Noël, radio journalist Kiskeya, which broadcasts from Port-au-Prince. “It’s a population practically on its knees and the authorities are absent. There has been no official communication for almost two weeks. The population is left to its own devices.”

“Haiti is practically cut off from the world”

The situation has turned into general chaos in the capital, deprived for several days of its two economic lungs: the airport, scene of fighting, and the port, handed over to armed gangs. “With international flights suspended, Haiti is virtually cut off from the world. Ports, which are now under the control of gangs, are being looted,” laments Hervé Noël.

This violence only worsens an already extremely difficult humanitarian situation. “I am distressed by the situationadmits Jean-Martin Boer, director of the World Food Program (WFP) on the island. Haiti depends on imports for 50% of its food. The closure of the port of Port-au-Prince is very worrying. It could result in a scarcity of food products and an increase in prices. We must act immediately, we cannot wait any longer.”

United Nations representatives are particularly concerned about the situation of pregnant women. If the paralysis continues, thousands of them could no longer be able to access essential and life-saving health care in the event of complications.