Highlights: Haiti: faced with gang violence, residents protect themselves behind barriers. The Haitian Prime Minister must finalize “the terms of deployment” of the international force that Nairobi is supposed to lead. A force that is slow to come while the situation in Haiti is deteriorating day by day. Gangs control more than 80% of the capital Port-au-Prince, where residents of several neighborhoods are installing barriers to protect themselves against the invasion of armed gangs. It was almost a year ago, in April 2023: residents of the Canapé Vert, Debussy and Turgeau neighborhoods were experiencing one of the worst moments of their lives.

Ariel Henry is expected in Kenya this week. The Haitian Prime Minister must finalize “the terms of deployment” of the international force that Nairobi is supposed to lead. A force that…

Haiti: faced with gang violence, residents protect themselves behind barriers

Ariel Henry is expected in Kenya this week.

The Haitian Prime Minister must finalize “the terms of deployment” of the international force that Nairobi is supposed to lead.

A force that is slow to come while the situation in Haiti is deteriorating day by day.

Gangs control more than 80% of the capital Port-au-Prince, where residents of several neighborhoods are installing barriers to protect themselves against the invasion of armed gangs.

Residents of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, pass by makeshift barricades set up to protect themselves from armed gangs.

AP - Odelyn Joseph

By: RFI Follow

With our correspondent in Port-au-Prince

Marie-André Bélange

It was almost a year ago, in April 2023: residents of the Canapé Vert, Debussy and Turgeau neighborhoods were experiencing one of the worst moments of their lives.

Armed bandits took neighborhoods hostage

, looting houses, beating their occupants, setting cars on fire.

Residents were forced to flee their homes before the police managed to repel the armed gangs.

Also readNew kidnappings and more and more displaced people in Haiti, a country plagued by violence

Since then, barriers have been installed against possible armed attacks.

However, this does not reassure all residents, like this resident of Turgeau: “

Bandits do not invade areas on a whim.
They take time to find out about the area, the time at which the barrier opens and closes... So the installation of the barrier in my neighborhood does not reassure me.
On the contrary, it worries me because it reminds me that I am in danger.
Additionally, in some areas, the person holding the key will not stay in the evening to open for everyone, especially those who come home late from work.

According to him, this phenomenon is proof of the lack of response from state authorities.

Authorities who, according to him, refuse to take adequate measures to protect Haitians who continue to live in an increasingly unbearable climate of insecurity.

Read alsoBenin will send more than a thousand men for a security mission in Haiti

Haiti: faced with gang violence, residents protect themselves behind barriers

Haiti: faced with gang violence, residents protect themselves behind barriers

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