Gang violence in Central America
UN wants to start “airlift” for Haiti’s population
March 14, 2024, 12:11 a.m
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The dramatic situation for Haiti’s population continues even after the president’s announced resignation. Gang violence causes a lot of suffering. In order to supply the people, the UN and the Dominican Republic are planning an “airlift”.
In view of the increasingly precarious humanitarian situation in Haiti, the United Nations has announced that it will supply the crisis state via an “airlift”. The UN office in Haiti is working on “establishing an air bridge with the Dominican Republic to enable the transport of aid and the relocation of UN personnel,” said the mission in the online service X.
“In Haiti, children and families face constant waves of violence from armed groups. The suffering of the Haitian people has reached critical levels. Urgent action must be taken to save the lives of children,” UNICEF said on X.
Gang violence in the Caribbean state of Haiti has been escalating for weeks. The situation in the country worsened at the end of February during Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s trip abroad. Armed gangs in the country attacked police stations and freed thousands of prisoners from prisons. The gangs demanded the resignation of Henry, who has been in power since 2021 and who was actually supposed to leave the office of Prime Minister at the beginning of February. Henry finally resigned earlier this week.
The assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021 plunged the Caribbean state, which was already characterized by crime, political instability and great poverty, into an even deeper crisis. Gangs now control large parts of the country, and the number of murders has more than doubled in the past year. There have been no elections in Haiti since 2016.