Humanitarian agencies call for an end to crisis in Haiti

Port-au-Prince, Aug 31 (EFE).- The escalation of violence in Haiti, which has left at least 71 people dead and an unknown number wounded in just two weeks, is of grave concern, humanitarian agencies said Thursday.

“The humanitarian community is deeply concerned about another escalation of violence of extreme brutality. Entire families, including children, were executed while others were burned alive. This upsurge in violence has caused unspeakable continued suffering of Haitians”, said the UN Humanitarian Coordinator a.i., Mr. Philippe Branchat.

He confirmed that serious human rights violations and abuses have been reported, including kidnappings, lynchings, and sexual and gender-based violence against women and children.

“The humanitarian community in Haiti now calls on all those involved in the crisis to end the violence.” said Branchat.

“Haitians can no longer live cooped up in their homes, unable to feed their families, find work, and live in dignity. Children cannot go to school,” he added.

Over the past two weeks, armed gangs have intensified their violent actions in Port-au-Prince and Artibonite. Dozens of people have been killed and more than 10,000 displaced in the Canaan, Bel-Air, Carrefour Feuilles, Savanne Pistache and Solino neighborhoods of the Haitian capital.

Despite the insecurity, humanitarian agencies say they will continue to provide emergency assistance to the displaced, including food, water, shelter, sanitation, health care and psychosocial support, particularly to victims of sexual violence.

According to humanitarian agencies, Haiti’s situation has deteriorated considerably in 2023. The latest figures more than 2,500 dead, around 1,000 injured, and at least 970 are missing due to kidnaps.

According to a report prepared by the Human Rights Unit of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), at least 3,494 people had been victims of killings, injuries, and kidnappings in the during the first six months of the 2023.

Nearly half of Haiti’s population needs humanitarian and food aid, and almost 200,000 people have had to flee their homes, a ten-fold increase in two years.

As displacement intensifies, forced repatriations of Haitians from neighboring countries, sometimes accompanied by severe human rights violations, have quadrupled since 2022. EFE

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