In Haiti, the humanitarian situation is degraded, judged the executive director of Unicef on Sunday March 17, while foreign nationals are evacuated. “Many, many people are suffering from severe hunger and malnutrition, and we are failing to provide enough help”said Catherine Russell in an interview with the American channel CBS.
“One way or another we have to take more control of the situation, so that help can come in” in Haiti, argued Catherine Russell, citing the multiple disasters that have affected the country for almost fifteen years: “earthquakes, cholera, Covid-19…”. The current situation “is the worst anyone has seen in decades”she continued.
The Caribbean island and especially its capital, Port-au-Prince, have been the scene of an outbreak of gang violence in recent weeks. These organized gangs control entire sections of the country, including 80% of the capital, and are accused of numerous abuses, in particular murders, rapes, and kidnappings for ransom. On Sunday, the curfew was extended until Wednesday in the West department, which includes Port-au-Prince. The state of emergency must end on April 3.
Acts of “sabotage and vandalism” against the port
While the Port-au-Prince airport remains closed, the United Nations (UN) mission in Haiti announced the establishment as soon as possible of a ” air lift “ between Haiti and the neighboring Dominican Republic by helicopter, in particular to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid. The capital’s main port has also been at a standstill since March 7, facing acts “sabotage and vandalism”, according to its operator, complicating the delivery of international aid.
A container from Unicef, “including crucial maternal, newborn and child health supplies”was looted on Saturday in this port, the UN agency announced in a press release. “This incident comes at a critical time, when children need it most”added Unicef.
Around thirty American nationals evacuated
More than thirty American nationals were evacuated from Haiti aboard a government-chartered charter flight and landed in Florida on Sunday, the State Department announced. The plane took off from the country’s second city, Cap-Haïtien, where the airport is open “periodically”according to the American embassy. “The passengers are now safe in Miami, Florida, where U.S. government officials are assisting them with next steps,” announced a spokesperson for the State Department to Agence France-Presse on Sunday evening.
Last Sunday, the United States evacuated some of its embassy staff and reinforced the teams responsible for its security. Several other countries and the European Union have also evacuated their diplomatic staff due to the instability on the island, with the UN having evacuated its non-essential staff.
For Americans remaining in Haiti, the State Department “is studying the possibilities of leaving outside [la capitale] Port-au-Prince and will inform American nationals as soon as[il] ser[a] able to organize them securely »said the spokesperson. “We will continue to assist U.S. persons as long as commercial options remain unavailable and the security environment allows us to do so”he added.