United Nations says more than 200 people have been killed in Haiti’s capital of Port-au-Prince in just 10 days
A city of millions a few hours flying time from the US has seen so many killings just this month one person dies on average every 68 minutes.
World
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With its jumble of pastel coloured homes tumbling down a hillside between lush palm trees Port-au-Prince can look – at first glance – like a beautiful Caribbean tourist hotspot.
But this capital city of 2.6 million that lies just a couple of hours flying time from the US has become so riddled with gang violence that over just a 10 day period this month more than 209 people have been killed.
On average, between July 8 and July 17, 21 people a day were murdered in the city that serves as Haiti’s capital. That’s one death every 68 minutes or so.
According to the United Nations in total 471 people have been killed, injured or unaccounted for in the city in the less than two week period and 140 homes have been destroyed or burned to the ground.
One resident of the Cite Soliel suburb of Port au Prince said gunfire was so constant he tried to use the “rhythmical sound of bullets being fired to lull me to sleep”.
“My life is now a cycle of fear, stress and despair,” said Edwin, who didn’t want to use his real name.
Haiti is the poorest and one of the most politically unstable countries in the Western Hemisphere. The nation has seen 23 coups since it gained independence from Franc, and has suffered through long periods of dictatorship.
Assassination and earthquakes
The country of 11.5 million takes up the western third of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, which is close to Jamaica and Cuba and lies 1100km south of Miami. The far richer and more stable Dominican Republic holds sovereignty over the eastern two thirds of the island.
A devastating earthquake in 2010 is thought to have killed 250,000 Haitians and left 1.3 million people homeless. In the process it further wrecked the country’s fragile economy and infrastructure.
Another earthquake in 2021 killed 2200 people and damaged 140,000 buildings.
Last July, President Jovenel Moise was assassinated in his home. The country currently does not have a permanent president or prime minister and a dysfunctional high court.
The assassination led to an uptick in crime in an already dangerous country. The violence has got even worse since July 8 with battles breaking out between two warring gangs in the Cite Soliel – translated into English as “city of the sun” – neighbourhood.
The suburb of 300,000 people near the centre of Port au Prince is one of the city’s poorest areas.
Gangs wreak havoc
The G-PEP gang, allied with Haiti’s opposition, has long held sway in Cite Soleil. But its dominance is now being challenged by the G9 gang which is connected with the ruling party.
The gangs are now operating with widespread impunity with 155 kidnappings reportedly attributed to either side in June.
Acting Prime Minister Ariel Henry has yet to comment on the outbreak of violence.
An area within Cite Soleil known as Brooklyn has become the epicentre of the bloodshed.
Many of the deaths in the suburb are due to guns. Of the 209 people killed recently, 114 were gang members, the UN has reported. But significant numbers of local residents not affilkiated with gangs have been felled by stray bullets.
“The humanitarian needs in Cite Soleil are immense and are growing due to poverty, lack of basic services, including security, and a recent spike in violence,” UN humanitarian co-ordinator in Haiti Ulrika Richardson said.
As well as deaths and kidnappings, incidents of sexual violence against women and girls have been reported while boys have been recruited to the gangs.
Access to health care is essentially non-existent, supplies of clean water and food are low, and at least 3000 people have fled their homes.
‘Bullets know every pathway’
“There is heavy fighting in the streets and everyone is very stressed. We cannot leave our homes most of the time and there is no traffic coming in and out of the neighbourhood,” said Edwin, in a statement published by the UN.
“You think you are safe at home but bullets know every pathway and back alley in our neighbourhood.”
The youth leader, who previously had helped members of the warring gangs to come together, said the sound of gunfire is the first thing he hears in the morning and the last thing at night.
“I try and use the rhythmical sound of bullets being fired to lull me to sleep; this is the only way I can survive through this difficult period.
“Sometimes, you can use music to escape the constant shooting noise, but not when shots are being fired so close to your house; it’s just too loud.”
Earlier this month, the UN Security Council voted to ban some weapon sales to Haiti to try and slow the level of violence.
The UN, through its various agencies, has begun to deliver 1400 kits in the area with hygiene and baby supplies include lamps, water and blankets. UNICEF, the UN’s children’s fund, has delivered enough water for 20,000 residents while the World Food Programme is trying to distribute rice, beans and oil to feed at least 7000 Cite Soleil residents a week.
But until the violence in the seaside suburb of Haiti’s capital drops, the prospects for its residents remains bleak.
Originally published as United Nations says more than 200 people have been killed in Haiti’s capital of Port-au-Prince in just 10 days
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