EPADamage after violence in Haiti a few days ago
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 04:06
The US military has evacuated staff from the US embassy in Haiti due to ongoing gang violence in the country. Much of the area surrounding the embassy is in the hands of gangs. That is why soldiers were brought to the embassy to secure the building and the employees still present.
The European Union delegation has also taken measures. The delegation offices have been closed and the number of employees has been reduced to the minimum necessary. European diplomats have emigrated to the neighboring Dominican Republic due to “the very tense security situation”, a spokesperson for the German Foreign Ministry told the DPA news agency.
Looting
The violence of powerful gangs, who want to put an end to Prime Minister Henry’s interim government, has paralyzed large parts of the country. Gangs control most of the capital Port-au-Prince and last week raided the country’s two largest prisons. More than 4,000 prisoners were liberated there.
Looting was also carried out. It is unclear how many people have now fallen victim to the violence.
Dominican Republic
The situation escalated late last month. Prime Minister Henry was traveling abroad at the time and did not return. Haiti’s international airports are closed and Henry is not welcome in the neighboring country, the Dominican Republic. That country is very concerned about the violence and calls the situation in Haiti a “direct threat to our security and stability.”
Henry is now in Puerto Rico. He promised to hold new elections in mid-2025. However, the two main gang groups, which have now merged, demand that Henry leave. Otherwise, a civil war will break out, the leader warned.
Today, Caribbean leaders are meeting in Jamaica to discuss the situation. Brazil, France and the United States, among others, have also been invited. In the meantime, ordinary Haitians are dealing with the consequences of famine. The United Nations fears that more than 11 million residents will not have enough to eat.
2024-03-11 03:06:22
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