P-au-P, July 3, 2024 [AlterPresse] — The Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Haiti and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (Binuh), Maria Isabel Salvador, expresses her concern about the regular spread of “blind violence” beyond the capital, Port-au-Prince, to other areas of the country, during an intervention at a meeting of the United Nations (UN) Security Council on the crisis in Haiti, this Wednesday, July 3, 2024, observes the online agency AlterPresse.
“Recurrent gang attacks since February 29 have seriously hampered national and international efforts to accelerate the recruitment process of new police officers and attrition rates within the national police remain high,” she laments.
Despite the progress made in terms of security, the alarming level of violence remains a source of great concern, she added.
New offensives have been launched by gangs in the municipalities of Gressier and Carrefour (southern outskirts of Port-au-Prince), one week after the arrival of the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti.
Armed gang members once again stormed the Gressier police station on Sunday, June 30, 2024, before ransacking it.
A forceful intervention, on the afternoon of Monday, July 1, 2024, by a police task force from the Grand Sud made it possible to regain control of the Gressier police station, which had been partially damaged by these bandits.
Shortly after this operation, the Saint-Charles police substation in Carrefour, abandoned since last April, was partially set on fire by gang members on the night of Monday, July 1.
Binuh reports that human rights violations and abuses continue at alarming levels.
It cites among the incidents recorded mass shootings and targeted killings, gang rapes, kidnappings, burning and looting of homes and businesses, and the intentional destruction of facilities operated by social service providers, including hospitals and schools.
The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti says it remains deeply troubled by the indiscriminate violence and serious abuses perpetrated by armed gangs against children, as well as the frequency of threats and attacks against human rights defenders, journalists and members of the justice system.
Many of these professionals have been forced to limit or stop their work, or even flee the country, he said.
It also notes a continuing deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Haiti, where 578,000 people are internally displaced, an increase of 60% since March 2024.
“Rates of violence and sexual abuse remain worrying. Only 20% of health facilities are functioning normally.”
Around 3,000 pregnant women are facing difficulties in accessing maternal health services due to the closure of hospitals and health facilities, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has warned.
Escalating gang violence continues to cause health care shortages in Haitistressed health organizations and institutions, according to the Onu info site consulted by AlterPresse.
“We face ongoing challenges, which require continued support and action to ensure stable and accessible health care for those who need it,” he said. [emb gp apr 03/07/2024 13 :15]
