Conflicts & War

Violence escalates during anti-government protests in Haiti

Port-au-Prince, Feb 7 (EFE). – The protests demanding the departure of Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henrysaw a violent escalade on Wednesday, with one person dead and several injured, as well as widespread looting, acts of vandalism, and fires in various cities.

At least two people were injured, one in the head and another in the foot, when the Haitian National Police (PNH) violently dispersed demonstrators in St. Marc (Artibonite department, west), according to local press reports.

In Jérémie, journalists and demonstrators were also injured and the Emergency Operations Center, considered the local breadbasket, was vandalized.

In Ouanaminthe, in the northeast of the country, one man died during the attack of a police station on Wednesday morning and later protesters set fire to and vandalized several institutions, including the Red Cross, the Town Hall, and the Peace Tribunal.

The metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince came to a complete standstill. The streets were almost empty, while schools have again closed their doors, as well as several public and private institutions.

In several areas of the capital, such as Pétion-ville, demonstrators have built trenches with burning tires, and the National Police have fired tear gas and shot at the demonstrators.

Throughout the country, protesters demanded the resignation of the Prime Minister and vowed to continue demonstrating as long as Henry remains in office.

The authorities and the government have remained silent about the numerous demonstrations.

Feb. 7 marks the end of Henry’s interim government, according to the agreement signed in December 2022 with representatives of political parties, civil society organizations, and members of the private sector.

Citizens are demanding the departure of Henry, who is considered incapable of successfully leading the country after more than 30 months in power.

The protests come as armed groups control the capital and other parts of Haiti’s territory and are responsible for hundreds of murders, rapes, kidnappings and other crimes.

In addition, in this country, the poorest in the Americas, nearly 50 percent of the population is food insecure, and half of the population of just over 11 million lives in poverty.

The critical situation in Haiti led the UN Security Council to approve in October, at Henry’s request, the deployment of a multinational security support mission led by Kenya, which has not yet materialized. EFE

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