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Haiti: "terrifying" gang violence is spreading at an "alarming" rate, warns the UN

2023-04-26T15:30:58.496Z


"Terrifying" gang violence in Haiti is "spreading at an alarming rate" in areas hitherto relatively spared, a...


The " terrifying

" violence

of gangs raging in Haiti "

is spreading at an alarming rate

" in areas hitherto relatively spared, alerted Wednesday, April 26 the UN envoy to the country, calling on the international community to act .

Since the last assessment in January, “

gang crime has increased.

Gang violence is spreading at an alarming rate in areas previously considered relatively safe in Port-au-Prince and outside the capital

,” Maria Isabel Salvador told a meeting of the UN Security Council. .

"

The horrifying violence in areas where gangs operate, including sexual violence particularly against women and girls, is emblematic of the terror that affects a large part of the population of Haiti," she added

.

Interviews conducted by the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti show that gangs continue to use sexual violence, including gang rape, to terrorize and inflict suffering on populations living in areas under the control of their rivals.

“, she insisted.

Worrying level of insecurity

In a report released Monday, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said insecurity in the Haitian capital has reached levels "

comparable to those in countries at war

."

Between January 1 and March 31, the number of reported homicides increased in the country by 21% compared to the previous quarter (815 against 673), and the number of kidnappings by 63% (637 against 391).

Maria Isabel Salvador, who has just taken office, insisted on Wednesday on the situation of children also targeted.

"

Children are among the victims of the most heinous crimes, including murder, kidnapping and rape

," she said, referring to children shot in classrooms and others abducted outside schools.

"Hurry up"

In this context, she repeated the call relayed for months by Antonio Guterres to send an international specialized armed force to help the police restore order.

Time is running out.

And the Haitian people deserve your urgent action

” to stop “

the vicious circle of violence and political, social and economic crises

”, she pleaded.

Antonio Guterres had relayed in October a call for help from Prime Minister Ariel Henry, asking the Security Council to send this force.

But without result since: if some countries indicated to be ready to take part in it, none seems to want to take the lead.

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2023-04-26

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