In the heart of Haiti’s capital, gangs have escalated their rampage, destroying a school and robbing pharmacies across the street from the most prominent public hospital in the nation.
Nearly a month has passed since gunmen started attacking important Port-au-Prince infrastructure, such as police stations, the main international airport, which is still closed, and Haiti’s two largest prisons, which released more than 4,000 prisoners, during the attacks that started on the 25th of this month and continued until early in the next day.
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Catherine Russell, UNICEF’s executive director, claimed in a recent statement, “The violence and instability in Haiti have consequences far beyond the risk of the violence itself.” She added, “The situation is creating a child health and nutrition crisis that could cost the lives of countless children.”
UNICEF estimates that 19% more children in Haiti are projected to be suffering from severe acute malnutrition this year. Furthermore, 1.64 million individuals are in danger of starvation. “This malnutrition crisis is entirely human-made,” Russell expressed.
Roads and several hospitals have had to close due to violence, and relief organizations are unable to transport essential supplies just when they are most needed.
UNICEF reports that just two of Haiti’s five hospitals are open for business nationwide. Furthermore, the organization stated that the unrest in Port-au-Prince has hindered the delivery of food and medical supplies to at least 58,000 critically malnourished children.
As highly armed gangs that control 80% of the city continue to overpower Haiti’s National Police, scores of people have been murdered in the continuous attacks, and about 17,000 have been rendered homeless.
According to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, U.S. President Joe Biden has approved up to $10 million in emergency help for Haitian security forces to “protect civilians and critical infrastructure against organized and targeted gang attacks.”
According to Jean-Pierre, the money is provided by the budget of the US Department of Homeland Security and can be used to purchase items like helmets, bulletproof vests, ammunition, and firearms.
In the meantime, in an attempt to put an end to the continuous violence, members of the Caricom regional trade group have urged for the creation of a transitional presidential council as soon as possible.
Criminal gangs in Haiti have long resisted Ariel Henry, the country’s prime minister, claiming he is to blame for the country’s increasing poverty. However, opponents of gangs charge that the gangs are attempting to take power for themselves or other politicians.
The task of selecting a new prime minister and council of ministers would fall to the transition council. Henry announced his resignation as soon as the council was established. Henry was barred from Haiti at the start of the assaults.
Nevertheless, several obstacles persist in impeding the establishment of the council, which will consist of nine members, seven of whom will possess voting rights.
René Jean Jumeau resigned on Monday after being chosen to represent Haiti’s religious community in a non-voting capacity.
“The need for concrete action is too strong to remain helpless in the posture of a spectator,” In a letter to the council, he stated.
Col. Himmler Rébu, the head of the Grand Rally for the Revolution of Haiti, a group that won a seat on the council, and a former colonel of Haiti’s army, stated on Tuesday on Radio RFM 104.9 that he thinks the council would fail.
According to Rébu, authorities ought to promptly proceed with Plan B, which entails giving a judge from Haiti’s Supreme Court the authority to choose the nation’s new leaders.
That initiative has the Protestant Federation of Haiti as one of its supporters. It supported the choice of a Supreme Court justice to act as acting president and assist in selecting a prime minister in a statement released on Monday.
No more meetings with the nominated council members are scheduled for this week, according to Caribbean officials, as they have requested more time to resolve many unexplained internal difficulties.
