Port-au-Prince: In a distressing turn of events, two police stations adjacent to Haiti’s National Palace fell under attack by armed assailants on Friday night, escalating the already dire situation fueled by gang violence in the capital city of Port-au-Prince.
We are still working to get the situation under control as soon as possible. We are doing our best with what we have,” a security source in Port-au-Prince informed, as reported by the international media outlet CNN.
Port-au-Prince has been witnessing a surge in meticulously coordinated gang assaults targeting law enforcement and state institutions, with gang leader Jimmy Cherizier framing it as an endeavor to overthrow Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s government.
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The armed factions have resorted to burning down police stations and orchestrating mass prison breaks, with Cherizier warning of dire consequences, hinting at the looming threat of civil war and genocide unless the prime minister steps down.
Prime Minister Henry has faced challenges returning to Haiti since his departure for Kenya last week, where he was engaged in negotiations for a multinational mission led by Kenya aimed at reinstating security back home.
Reports suggest that Henry is currently in Puerto Rico after his flight was denied landing in the Dominican Republic, as revealed by two sources familiar with his movements in the Caribbean.
On Friday, the Haitian police union Synapoha urged all officers to fortify their respective police stations, emphasizing unity to safeguard the symbol of law enforcement. The union stressed the necessity for adequate support from the leadership across all units.
These violent incidents follow a recent breach at Port-au-Prince’s Caribbean Port Services (CPS) terminal, a pivotal entity in Haiti’s food import chain.
Despite the challenges, the United Nations confirmed that the police managed to repel coordinated gang assaults on critical infrastructures, including the airport.
“We remain deeply concerned by the rapidly deteriorating security situation amid ongoing gang violence and sporadic confrontations between heavily armed gangs and police forces in some parts of Port-au-Prince,” stated Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General.
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In response to the escalating turmoil, the Haitian government has declared a state of emergency until April 3 in the West Region and the capital Port-au-Prince, with a curfew enforced until March 10.
The prevailing chaos has driven tens of thousands of people to flee their residences in recent days, compounding the plight of over 300,000 already displaced by gang violence.
Expressing grave concerns about civilian displacement, Sophie Mealier, head of Doctors without Borders in Haiti, highlighted the absence of basic necessities exacerbating the situation.
“Hospitals have not been spared from gang targeting. As per an official from the country’s Civil Protection, only one public hospital remains operational in Port-au-Prince’s metropolitan area.”
Pierre Espérance, Executive Director of the Haitian Human Rights Defense Network, characterized Haiti’s situation as “chaotic” with no signs of improvement, indicating a complete collapse of the state’s infrastructure.
Canada reported a 90-minute protest outside its embassy, where a burning tire was hurled over the outer gate. Meanwhile, the United States revealed it is exploring “contingency options” at its embassy in response to the escalating crisis.
CARICOM, a regional bloc comprising 25 countries focusing on economic integration, security, and social development, is slated to convene a meeting on Haiti in the Jamaican capital of Kingston on Monday, as per the UN.
While Haiti is a member state of CARICOM, it remains uncertain if Prime Minister Ariel Henry will participate in the meeting.
