More than 53,000 people have fled the violence-ridden capital of Haiti

NOS News•today, 10:57 PM

More than 53,000 people fled Haiti’s capital in three weeks last month. Tens of thousands of people left the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area between March 8 and 27, according to United Nations estimates.

According to the UN, many of the displaced are traveling to the country’s southern peninsula, which is still recovering from a devastating earthquake in 2021. Nearly seven in 10 people who left the capital in March had already been displaced by gang violence, the UN said .

Only 4 percent of displaced people want to emigrate, mainly to the Dominican Republic, the UN reports. That is Haiti’s neighbor on the island of Hispaniola. But the government of the Dominican Republic has stepped up border security. The country also does not want refugee camps on its territory.

The situation in Haiti leads to many human rights violations. UN human rights chief Turk says they are happening on a scale “unprecedented in modern Haitian history.” He talked about murders, kidnappings and sexual violence. Last week, the UN reported that gang violence in Haiti has already claimed more than 1,500 lives and injured more than 800 people this year.

The gangs have partially controlled the island for years, but the violence escalated at the end of February. Several gangs joined forces and stormed prisons, among other things. It is estimated that around 80 percent of the capital Port-au-Prince is currently in their hands, with Jimmy Cherizier, better known as gang leader Barbecue, in charge.

The gangs are trying to take over parts of the capital that they do not yet control and have effectively declared war on the government. Prime Minister Henry, who recently announced his resignation, will step down as soon as a new temporary prime minister has been appointed by a transitional council. In the run-up to the formation of this council, the gangs are trying to claim a place at the negotiating table.

Gang leader Barbecue said on Friday that he wants to participate in the discussion about the political future of the country. In return, he would consider a ceasefire, he said in an interview with Sky News.

Haiti has had a turbulent recent history. Watch our explanation video about it:

From poverty to gang violence: what’s going wrong in Haiti?