Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 12th March. UN Security Council on Monday strongly condemned “destabilizing” criminal activity by armed gangs ravaged Haiti as the waves of violence have displaced over 15,000 Haitians in a week after ongoing looting at the main port, according to the latest report by the International Organization of Migration.
Council members urged the armed gangs to “immediately cease their destabilizing actions” and reiterated the call for the “perpetrators of these abhorrent acts to be brought to justice”, according to a statement issued after a closed-door briefing last week by the Special Representative and Head of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti.
The Council members reiterated its strong condemnation of the increasing violence, criminal activities, mass displacement of civilians and human rights abuses that undermine the peace, stability and security of Haiti and the region, the statement said
They said that includes kidnappings, sexual and gender-based violence, unlawful killings and the recruitment of children by armed groups and criminal networks.
Council expressed grave concern at the illicit flow of arms and ammunition to Haiti that remains a “key factor of instability and violence”,
It called the Member States to implement existing arms embargoes.
They condemned “in the strongest terms” attacks carried out by armed gangs on the country’s main prisons and other critical infrastructure which allowed gang leaders and other prisoners to escape the facilities, and expressed their deep concern at unacceptable threats of targeted violence against the police and members of the government.
Security Council expressed expectation and hope that the Council-mandated multinational support mission, created upon the request of the Haitian Government to address the ongoing crisis, would be deployed “as soon as possible”.
According to Philippe Branchat, the International Organization for Migration chief in Haiti the chaotic security situation is growing ever more dangerous.
He stressed that “The Port-au-Prince is surrounded by armed groups and danger; it is a city under siege.” .
IOM said that over 160,000 people are displaced in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, as the agency raised concerns over growing violence by gang groups which began in late February.
“People living in the capital are locked in; they have nowhere to go,” he warned.
OCHA stated in its latest situation report that looting at the main port, where the majority of goods and products are transported has put 300 containers of lifesaving aid at risk.
The agency stated that an “unspecified number of containers of food and non-food articles were broken into and that efforts are being undertaken to protect humanitarian supplies.
OCH reported that terminal Varreux, where the majority of the fuel in Haiti is stocked has been “blocked by gangs”, raised concerns of looming fuel shortages.
The gang violence broke out on 29 February across numerous neighborhoods in the capital, a heavy gunfight led to two jail breaks, released 4,500 prisoners and thrown Port-au-Prince into more insecurity, UN agencies stated. .
Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry remains outside Haiti in Puerto Rico, after his plane was denied the right to land last week at the national airport, after a three-day-long state of emergency was extended until 3 April.
According to media reports, gang leaders have threatened civil war if he does return to the capital.
OCHA said that rising violence has disrupted economic activities across the capital.
All commercial airlines have suspended flights to Port-au-Prince and Dominican Republic has closed its airspace to all flights to and from Haiti effective 5 March.
IOM raised concerns over reports of violence in Artibonite, roadblocks in Cap Haitien and fuel shortages in the south.
Mr. Branchat warned “Haitians are unable to lead a decent life; they are living in fear, and every day, every hour this situation carries on, the trauma gets worse.”
IOM reported that 10 displacement sites have been emptied due to the “successive waves of violence”, left displaced families traumatized, as needs soar.
The agency said “Urgent needs include access to food, healthcare, water, and hygiene facilities, and psychological support”.
IOM cautioned of health system collapsing and the attacks on hospitals by the armed groups and the lack of mental health services further exacerbate the humanitarian crisis.
“Some hospitals have been overrun by gangs and had to evacuate staff and patients, including newborns,” the agency said.
It added that medical professionals across the capital are “sounding the alarm” as their capacity to deliver has been “severely diminished”.
The most basic services at risk, there is a “dire” need for psychosocial support, IOM reported.
The agency said that is because of increasingly grave conditions.
It pointed to people facing successive displacements coupled with violence, rape and overcrowding in shelters.
IOM stated that these conditions have exacerbated psychological distress with an alarming rise in suicidal tendencies among the displaced.
UN agencies reported that across Haiti, 362,000 people half of them children are internally displaced, some are several times over, represented 15 per cent increase since the beginning of the year.
IOM said that a lack of goods and resources is amplifying an already precarious economic situation, as each new location presents new adaptation challenges, such as access to water and basic services.
IOM and its partners persist in delivering assistance to the areas where it is most needed despite the chaotic security situation in the capital.
The agency stated “The agency is using every available opportunity to provide aid to communities and displaced populations in different neighborhoods and maintaining the necessary social cohesion between both communities facing similar humanitarian needs,”.
OCHA is leading coordination efforts in close collaboration with civil protection authorities to ensure that aid workers can deliver.
WFP was able to deliver almost 19,000 meals in a 48-hour period last week.
IOM and its partners have provided 300,000 litres of water to more than 20,000 displaced people.
They distributed blankets, jerry cans, solar lamps, kitchen sets and plastic sheets to more than 2,000 people and are offering psychosocial support through hotlines and mobile clinics with psychologists, nurses and doctors.
IOM said that greater access is urgently needed.
“IOM and humanitarian partners need unhindered access throughout the country to ensure that lifesaving aid reaches the most vulnerable people now,” the agency said.
UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric in New York on Monday said that the UN agencies are trying to reach those in need, safe access is needed alongside support for hospitals that face supply shortages and are treating patients coming in with gunshot wounds in the Port-au-Prince area
“It is critical that we support the Haitian people with one voice towards rapidly finding a Haitian-led solution to the current grave crisis,” Mr. Dujarric said.
Mr. Guterres called on governments and stakeholders to agree on immediate steps to stop the ongoing deterioration of the situation in Haiti and to advance the political process that would lead to elections, the UN Spokesperson added.
He called for support to the humanitarian response fund, which is $674 million and is currently only 2.6 per cent funded.
“That is not enough,” Mr. Dujarric said.
Mr. Guterres urged Member States to deploy and adequately fund the Security Council-mandated multinational support mission is needed to tackle the grave security needs of Haitians, Mr. Dujarric stated
SG called the need to swiftly deploy the Security Council-mandated multinational support force. To date, Benin, Kenya and other nations have pledged personnel for the non-UN support force.
President of the General Assembly, Dennis Francis, echoed deep distress over the ongoing crisis, implored all stakeholders to take action to foster peace and security, PGA spokesperson said.
Mr. Francis said in a social media post “The international community cannot forget the lives of innocent Haitian caught in the middle of the unfolding violence.”
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