Haitian gangs attempting to take over primary airport as numerous individuals flee prisons: “Committing mass killings without discrimination”
Armed groups made a strong attempt to take over Haiti’s primary international airport on Monday, engaging in a shootout with law enforcement and military forces in the most recent incident.attack on key government sites
A violent explosion ensues, filled with aggression and chaos.mass escape
Shortly after the attack at the airport, authorities reported that armed individuals also carried out an assault at Haiti’s police academy, which is considered to be the largest prison in the country.
At the time of the attack, the Toussaint Louverture International Airport was not in operation and had no passengers present. Journalists from the Associated Press witnessed an armored truck on the runway attempting to stop gangs from entering the airport, while many employees and workers ran away to avoid gunshots.
Lionel Lazarre from the Haitian police union reported that reinforcements successfully prevented an attack on the police academy, where over 800 cadets are currently undergoing training. This incident occurred on Tuesday.
Following a weekend of violence in which armed gang members took control of the two largest prisons and released thousands of inmates, a nighttime curfew was enacted in Haiti.
LUCKENSON JEAN/AFPTV/AFP via Getty Images
“The spokesperson of the United Nations, Stephane Dujarric, expressed great worry over the increasingly alarming state of security in Port-au-Prince. This weekend, there has been a surge in attacks on vital infrastructure by armed gangs.”
A state of emergency lasting 72 hours was initiated on Sunday evening. The government has announced plans to locate the escaped prisoners, most of whom were being held in pre-trial detention at a penitentiary. Some of these inmates are facing charges for murder, kidnapping and other offenses.
According to an official statement from Acting Prime Minister Patrick Boivert, the police were directed to utilize all lawful methods to implement the curfew and capture any lawbreakers.
Criminal organizations were previously believed to have influence over as much as 80% of Port-au-Prince, the main city. They are now collaborating more and selecting previously unexpected targets, such as the Central Bank.
Last week, Prime Minister Ariel Henry visited Kenya in an attempt to maintain backing for a UN-supported security force that aims to stabilize Haiti amidst its ongoing conflict with influential criminal organizations.
The leader in turmoil has been noticeably missing during the current and intense outburst of conflict that began a week ago in their country. Henry has refrained from speaking publicly as he travels between continents, from South America to Africa, with no set date for his return.
On Tuesday, during an interview with CBS News’ senior correspondent on the White House and politics, Ed O’Keefe, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby stated that they do not have a clear idea of Henry’s location.
Dujarric stated that the secretary-general emphasized the importance of prompt response, specifically through providing monetary aid for the mission, in order to meet the critical security needs of the people of Haiti and prevent the escalation of turmoil in the country.
According to the U.N., Haiti’s police force, consisting of approximately 9,000 officers, is responsible for safeguarding a population of over 11 million. Unfortunately, they frequently face daunting challenges and are at a disadvantage in terms of armament.
Ulrika Richardson, the United Nations’ Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti, stated that there has been a significant rise in incidents of murder, lynching, rape, and other forms of violence from gang members in the past year. This trend has continued into 2024, with January being the most brutal month in the past two years, according to recent reports from the UN human rights office.
According to the UN’s immigration agency, a minimum of 15,000 individuals have been forced to relocate as a result of violent actions.
According to a man named Nicolas speaking to Reuters, we were compelled to evacuate our residences by armed criminal groups. In addition, they demolished our homes and now we find ourselves without shelter on the streets.
“Could you please assist us?”
Over the weekend, Haiti reached a new, grim milestone in its ongoing cycle of violence. A total of nine individuals were reported to have lost their lives since Thursday, including four members of the police force. This violence was marked by gangs carrying out organized assaults on government facilities in the capital city of Port-au-Prince, such as the international airport and the national soccer stadium.
The assault on the National Penitentiary on Saturday evening was a shocking event for the people of Haiti. The Office of Citizen Protection reported that nearly all of the 3,798 prisoners held at the facility managed to escape, leaving only 98 behind. A similar situation occurred at the Croix-des-Bouquets prison, where 1,033 inmates, including 298 convicted criminals, also fled.
On Monday, the office expressed strong concern for the safety of judges, prosecutors, victims, attorneys, and others in light of the large-scale escape.
The statement expressed strong disapproval and denounced the indifferent attitude displayed by government officials in response to the attacks.
After the penitentiary was raided, three individuals were found at the prison entrance on Sunday with gunshot injuries.
In a different area, the lifeless bodies of two males were found with their hands bound, lying face down while local residents observed makeshift barricades made with burning tires.
18 ex-Colombian soldiers, who were alleged to be working as mercenaries in July 2021, are part of the minority group who opted to remain incarcerated.
The killing of Jovenel Moïse, the President of Haiti.
“Could you please assist us?” Francisco Uribe, one of the men, pleaded in a message that quickly spread on social media. “Individuals are being brutally killed in the cells without any regard.”
The government of Colombia has urged Haiti to offer “specific safeguards” for the individuals.
Another prison in Port-au-Prince, which held approximately 1,400 prisoners, was also taken by storm.
Shots were heard in various districts of the city. A large number of residents experienced internet outage on Sunday due to a damaged fiber optic cable, according to the country’s leading mobile network.
In response to gangs shooting at Haiti’s international airport recently, the U.S. Embassy announced that all official travel to the country would be temporarily suspended. On Sunday night, the Embassy advised all American citizens to leave Haiti as soon as possible.
The Biden administration is keeping a close eye on the increasingly dangerous security situation in Haiti, but has not agreed to send troops as part of a multinational force. Instead, they are providing financial and logistical assistance.
The surge in attacks follows violent protests that turned deadlier in recent days as the prime minister went to Kenya seeking to move ahead on the proposed U.N.-backed security mission to be led by that East African country.
After Moise’s assassination, Henry became the new prime minister and has delayed the scheduled parliamentary and presidential elections, which have not taken place in almost ten years.
Barbecue, also known as Jimmy Chérizier, once a top-ranking police officer, is now the leader of a gang conglomerate responsible for the recent uptick in assaults. He declared that the objective is to apprehend the chief of police and government officials in order to hinder Henry’s comeback.
The prime minister has disregarded requests for his resignation and remained quiet when questioned about the safety of returning home.
Haitian immigrants are trapped in their home country of Haiti.
The U.S. State Department released several advisories advising American citizens and employees of the department to remain in their current location and exercise caution while on the island.
All incoming and outgoing flights at Miami and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airports have been canceled for Haiti’s two airports.CBS Miami reported
Despite numerous advisories, numerous Haitian Americans still remain on the island. For these individuals, Haiti holds a sense of home and departing is a challenging decision.
One of the individuals is Tania Francois’ sister from CBS News Miami.
She mentioned that she has been unable to leave her current city for around two months now. She has been attempting to travel to Port Au Prince in order to catch a flight to the United States, but has been unsuccessful.
According to CBS Miami, Kareen Ulysse works as a Haitian American in Haiti, specifically in Cite Soleil, a neighborhood in Port au Prince. She is in charge of the Centre Hospitalier de Fontaine, which serves as both a hospital and orphanage.
She stated that they work in extremely disadvantaged areas to assist the most at-risk individuals, and unfortunately, there is no assistance available. There aren’t many individuals stepping up to aid those in need.
protests at the embassy
In August, the U.S. Embassy in Haiti shut down because of nearby gunfire. This came after several months of protests happening near the embassy.
incessant brutality inflicted by criminal organizations
Thousands of Haitians took to the streets to demand security after being driven out of their homes.
This report was contributed by AFP.
Source: cbsnews.com