Hundreds of disabled people escape gang violence in Haiti

By Milo Milfort

Port-au-Prince, Jun 27 (EFE).- Hundreds of disabled people are currently living in inhumane conditions in a communal school in Haiti’s capital, with no access to basic amenities such as clean water, hygiene products, or food.

 Among the 565 disabled people relocated to this school in Pétion-Ville is Samuel Jean, who decries the deplorable conditions in which they have lived since June 20.

“When we got here, there was dust everywhere. So far the space is still dirty. We sleep packed like sardines. This is our situation here. For me, the state does not exist,” says the blind man, well known for the song he performs when begging for food or money in areas of Port-au-Prince.

These people with special needs spent several days in the courtyard of St. Ives Parish before being brought to this school by the office of the secretary of state for the integration of people with disabilities.

“An incident brought us here. Our house was consumed by fire. We have nowhere to sleep. We have come to take refuge in this school,” continues Jean.

On June 17, the entire La Piste camp, which gave shelter to people with physical disabilities such as blindness, muteness and deafness, caught fire.

At least one person died and three others were wounded, according to unofficial data.

“This is a criminal action that we deplore. That is why we demand justice and reparation. Because we are vulnerable people,” said Philogène Gesner, who heads an organization that defends the rights of the disabled.

This is at least the second time that the camp, located in a precarious area of ??the capital, has gone up in flames.