{"id":2508,"date":"2024-04-12T09:31:32","date_gmt":"2024-04-12T09:31:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/?p=2508"},"modified":"2024-04-12T09:31:32","modified_gmt":"2024-04-12T09:31:32","slug":"waiting-for-change-haitians-endure-hell-on-earth-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/?p=2508","title":{"rendered":"Waiting for change, Haitians endure hell on Earth"},"content":{"rendered":"


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<\/p>\n

\n Port-au-Prince, Haiti \u2014\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Jameson Jacques has been living in a makeshift shelter in Haiti’s capital with his three children since gang members torched his house, killing his parents.<\/p>\n

Like him, many people in Port-au-Prince have been enduring a hellish daily routine a month after the announcement of a transitional governing council — yet to be finalized — meant to put the country back on the road toward some semblance of order, and eventually toward holding elections.<\/p>\n

The city is a dangerous and chaotic place these days. Walking down the street it is frighteningly easy to get caught up in random violence — muggings, kidnappings, carjackings, rape or gunfire as gangs attack police, each other or innocent bystanders.<\/p>\n

“Port-au-Prince has become unlivable,” said Jacques. “If I had money I already would have left for some provincial town with my three kids.”<\/p>\n

Haiti has suffered from grinding poverty, political instability and natural disasters for decades, and now it is grappling with a wave of violence from powerful gangs that control most of the city and much of the country.<\/p>\n

Starting in late February these gangs teamed up to attack strategic sites in Port-au-Prince, such as police stations, government ministry buildings, the airport and the seaport in a violent drive to oust Prime Minister Ariel Henry.<\/p>\n

Henry is unpopular and unelected — he was appointed by president Jovenel Moise shortly before his assassination in 2021. Henry announced on March 11 that he would step down to make way for a presidential transition council — tasked with appointing a new prime minister and government and leading Haiti toward elections.<\/p>\n

The slain president was never replaced and Haiti has not voted since 2016.<\/p>\n

But the council has yet to be formed, with repeated delays stemming from disagreements among parties that are due to be represented on it and with the outgoing Henry government.<\/p>\n

Fleeing violence<\/strong><\/p>\n

Meanwhile people have to deal with life in a city that is 80% controlled by gangsters who are better armed than the police.<\/p>\n

“I am living a nightmare. For weeks I have not been able to go to the city center,” said Junior Fontus, a drinks vendor who had to move his business to the Education Ministry building, which has become a shelter for Haitians displaced by all the violence.<\/p>\n

“Without my business how am I going to feed my five children and pay for their schooling?” he asked.<\/p>\n

In March alone gang violence prompted some 53,000 people to flee from the city.<\/p>\n

“I used to say I would not leave the country. I advised young people not to leave, saying it was better to pool our savings and start a business,” said Charles Jean Wilderson, a 38-year-old businessman.<\/p>\n

“But now,” he added, “a young person that leaves is doing the right thing.”<\/p>\n

Shortages<\/strong><\/p>\n

In Port-au-Prince, gangs rule and police struggle to defend themselves against an enemy that is more numerous and better armed.<\/p>\n

The United Nations has called the situation catastrophic, with 1,554 dead and 826 wounded in the first three months of the year.<\/p>\n

Haiti was devastated by an earthquake in 2010 that killed more than 220,000 people, and it depends largely on imports and humanitarian aid to survive.<\/p>\n

But the gangs shut down the airport and the seaport in recent weeks, leading to shortages of food, medicine and other basics.<\/p>\n

The health system is on the verge of collapse, and the few hospitals still operating are overwhelmed.<\/p>\n

In the space of about five weeks starting in late February, La Paix University Hospital in Port-au-Prince admitted 194 people with gunshot wounds, said Paul Junior Fontilus, a doctor who works there. It is also short on blood for transfusions.<\/p>\n

“It is very difficult to get fuel and oxygen to take care of our patients,” said Fontilus. “Thanks to aid from some of our partners, we manage to get by. But I don’t know how long this can go on.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n


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