Haiti: Thousands of People Take the Streets Demanding Safety from Violent Gangs

Amidst a climate of growing turmoil, several thousand people took to the streets of Haiti's capital on Monday, their faces concealed to safeguard their identities, as they demanded protection against the rampant violence perpetuated by gangs that are ravaging neighborhoods not only in Port-au-Prince but also throughout the nation.

The daily lives of Haitians have been profoundly disrupted by the unrelenting onslaught of gang violence, exacerbating the already dire poverty that grips the nation, AP reports.

The country now awaits a decision from the United Nations Security Council regarding the potential deployment of an international armed force to address the crisis.

Marching for over two hours, the crowd echoed their call for security as they proceeded from the strife-ridden community of Carrefour-Feuilles to Champ de Mars in the downtown area and ultimately to the prime minister's official residence.

However, the demonstration was met with tear gas as the police intervened to disperse the gathering.

Wilene Joseph, a 36-year-old street vendor and mother of two, participated in the march out of frustration.

She lamented how the current environment has shackled her daily life, confining her to her own home. Fearing for the safety of her children, aged 5 and 7, Joseph highlighted the ever-present danger of bullets whizzing by from all directions.

The situation has notably deteriorated since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021.

Experts estimate that gangs have now assumed control of up to 80% of Port-au-Prince, causing untold suffering through violence, sexual assault, and the pervasive spread of terror within communities grappling with entrenched poverty.

Tens of Thousands of Haitians Fled the Country Amid Soaring Gang Violence and Poverty

The United Nations refugee agency reports that approximately 73,500 individuals fled Haiti last year, compelled to escape the escalating gang violence and deepening poverty that has gripped the nation.

The UN further discloses that an astonishing 5.2 million people, nearly half of Haiti's population, require urgent humanitarian assistance, according to Reuters.

This dire situation has prompted a call for international aid to help restore stability and alleviate the ongoing crisis in the country.

Individuals participating in the march expressed their profound desperation, describing their dire circumstances.

One individual succinctly summarized their plight: "There are thieves. We can't sleep. We can't eat. We can't even live. We didn't create the gangs."

During the protest, participants voiced their demand for intervention, particularly in the Carrefour-Feuilles area of Port-au-Prince.

They decried the absence of essential health services and the loss of lives at the hands of violent gangs. Some even went so far as to call for military intervention, stating, "We are asking for tanks."

Kidnappings of Women, Children Soar in Haiti

As gang violence continues to escalate in Haiti, a distressing surge in kidnappings targeting women and children has been observed, with the number of abductions during the first half of 2023 nearly equaling the total for the previous year, per Al Jazeera.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) highlighted the alarming situation on Monday. Within the initial six months of this year, approximately 300 kidnappings have been reported in the Caribbean nation.

The abductions primarily involve armed groups targeting women and children to achieve financial gains or strategic advantages. UNICEF has urgently called for the immediate release of those who have been kidnapped.

Garry Conille, UNICEF's regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean, strongly condemned these heinous acts, emphasizing that women and children should never be viewed as commodities or bargaining tools.

The growing prevalence of kidnappings is a deeply concerning trend that endangers the people of Haiti and those assisting.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Haiti: protesters demand end of criminal gang violence - From Reuters