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Silvenia Luc, who is taking shelter at a school after forcing to leave her home, holds up a photo of her son Mackenson Pierre who was killed in clashes between armed gangs in Cite Soleil, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Photo : AP
UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq said that 471 people were killed, injured or unaccounted for in clashes between rival gangs in the capital city on July 8-17 alone.
In the wake of the violence, about 3,000 people fled their homes, including hundreds of unaccompanied children. At least 140 houses were destroyed, several of them by fire.
The UN further stressed that gangs that operate with widespread impunity have extended their reach beyond the slums of the capital of Haiti, carrying out a wave of kidnappings.
During a media brieing, Haq said, “In the past few days, the UN has distributed enough food to feed 7,000 people for a week.”
“We have also distributed drinking water, as well as kits of basic relief items, including hygiene and baby supplies, plastic sheeting and repair items for damaged houses,” he added.
Meanwhile, Humanitarian Coordinator Ulrika Richardson called on all parties to end violence and to ensure unhindered access to provide emergency humanitarian and medical assistance to civilians in need.
“Protection remains a real concern,” the spokesman told correspondents at a regular briefing, adding there were reports of serious incidents of sexual violence against women and girls and boys recruited by gangs.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported earlier this month in a background report that since June 2021, violent clashes between armed gangs have dominated socio-economic life in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, spreading fear and terror among the population. The security situation has deteriorated significantly and reached new levels since April 2022.
The report cautioned that “the situation is expected to remain tense and volatile in the coming months”.
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