An urgent situation unfolded in Port-au-Prince on Saturday as a container packed with crucial supplies for newborns and their mothers was looted amid escalating Haiti gang violence and a deepening humanitarian crisis, according to UNICEF.

The looted container, which contained vital items such as resuscitators, maternity and neonatal supplies, as well as early childhood development and water equipment, underscores the worsening plight in the Haitian capital.

UNICEF reported that more than 260 containers owned by humanitarian organizations at the port are now under the control of armed groups, exacerbating the dire circumstance, CNN reports.

UNICEF Representative Bruno Maes in Haiti condemned the looting, emphasizing that it occurs at a pivotal moment when children are in desperate need of these supplies.

"Depriving children of vital health supplies amidst a collapsing healthcare system is a violation of their rights," Maes asserted.

Since January, Haiti has been grappling with heightened violence, which has further strained its already fragile healthcare infrastructure.

According to UNICEF, three out of four women and children in the Port-au-Prince area lack access to basic public health and nutrition services.

Vulnerable Cut Off from Essential Supplies

The looting and escalating violence have left some of Haiti's most vulnerable populations cut off from critical supplies at a time when they are needed the most.

On the same day, Guatemala's Foreign Ministry reported that the offices of its honorary consul in Haiti were ransacked, although details of the damage or thefts were not provided.

The ongoing chaos has plunged Haiti's government into turmoil, prompting Prime Minister Ariel Henry to announce his resignation, a demand made by the Haiti gang, according to AP News.

The United States has deployed military forces to bolster security at its embassy in Port-au-Prince while also organizing limited charter flights for American citizens from the northern city of Cap-Haitien due to the closure of the main airport in the capital following gang attacks.

Efforts to Quell Violence and Restore Order

In response to the escalating violence, police in Port-au-Prince are undertaking operations to regain control of areas held by notorious gang leader Jimmy Cherizier, also known as "Barbecue." Cherizier's stronghold in the Delmas neighborhood has become a focal point for law enforcement efforts, per BBC.

Police spokesperson Lionel Lazarre confirmed that several "bandits" were killed in operations aimed at apprehending members of Cherizier's gang.

Haitian authorities are also working to secure the capital's main port, which has been closed since March 7 due to escalating violence.

Amid the precarious situation, numerous embassies and consulates are evacuating their citizens from Haiti, with the United States airlifting non-essential embassy staff last week.

UNICEF's Maes reiterated concerns about the deepening humanitarian crisis, warning that the violence is exacerbating an already dire situation, the Miami Herald noted.

With six out of ten hospitals inoperable due to shortages of electricity, fuel, and medical supplies, the ability to provide emergency medical care, particularly in Port-au-Prince, is severely compromised.

Additionally, critical shortages of blood products are hindering essential surgeries for those injured in the violence.

As Haiti continues to grapple with escalating Haiti gang violence and a crumbling healthcare system, urgent international attention and support are needed to address the growing humanitarian crisis affecting the country's most vulnerable populations.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ross Key

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