State of emergency in Haiti: the population “fear in their stomachs”
Following the declaration of a state of emergency by the government, Haitians live in a climate of widespread fear.
In many neighborhoods, gang attacks continue.
Outside lie the bodies of victims killed in the street.
And there are also all those who we don't see, holed up at home, and who see their reserves becoming increasingly meager.
Since Thursday, February 29, armed gangs have taken control of entire sections of Haiti.
AP - Odelyn Joseph
By: RFI Follow
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With our correspondent in Port-au-Prince
,
Marie-André Bélange
On the roads of Port-au-Prince, carcasses of burning tires, stones.
Shots were heard in several neighborhoods, as well as in the area of Toussaint-Louverture international airport and the Guy Malary terminal.
There are very few people and cars on the streets.
The few people who dare to venture outside do so in a hurry.
Public transport operates slowly, while usually, all along the streets, there are fruit sellers, vegetable sellers, and motorcycle taxi drivers parked at every intersection.
Port-au-Prince also has street vendors who invite people to buy bread and sweets.
The Haitian capital also has queues at banks and money transfer offices.
Monday March 4, after three days of chaos, there was almost none of that.
No schoolchildren were seen in the Haitian capital.
Schools, banks, supermarkets and public administration did not function.
In public markets, we observed very few customers.
Even if rare traders still risk opening up shop.
Also read: In Haiti, after mass escapes from two prisons, “chaos, worry, danger reign”
The population “with fear in their stomachs”
The climate is very tense.
We feel that the Haitians can't take it anymore.
Some continue to flee their neighborhoods without knowing where to take refuge.
Gangs are gaining ground.
There is no peaceful neighborhood today in Port-au-Prince in recent days.
Some compatriots take the risk of leaving their homes to go to work or carry out their commercial activities.
However, we learned that residents in certain neighborhoods are unable to find water and gasoline.
There is no electricity.
People no longer chat with each other as usual.
On the other hand, they stare at everyone who gets on the bus.
We have the impression that they want to ask you to introduce yourself or to ask you if you are not one of the prisoners who fled during the escapes from the various Haitian prisons including the national penitentiary, the most large prison center in Haiti.
Other police stations have been attacked and burned by gangs.
In Haiti, concern is everywhere.
It's total chaos.
Supply difficulties
A resident of Port-au-Prince told RFI that she was experiencing “
fear in my stomach
”.
“
We are worried, we wonder if we will not be forced to pack our bags one day or another to find refuge elsewhere.
So, it is with fear in our stomachs that we live.
» For security reasons, she also wished to remain anonymous.
“
Where I live, I hear all the shots, we experienced the prison siege live.
We have difficulty supplying ourselves with water.
(...) We obviously eat non-perishable products, because there is no electricity either.
Until we are at the point of running out since it won't take very long to arrive, in three or four days perhaps.
We should have been able to get out.
Personally, I haven't come out and don't plan to be brave enough to see what the situation is like.
I am a teacher and the schools sector is paralyzed.
It’s going to be difficult to resume, even when the situation is a little calmer
.”
Also read: Haiti: “People live with a terror that dominates their entire day”
💬 William O'Neill, UN human rights expert in #Haiti
“We cannot count the cases of violence because there are so many”
🎙@NathalieAmar #RFImatin 👇 pic.twitter.com/JNV8oMg71y
— RFI (@RFI) March 5, 2024
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