Florin Hossu (correspondent in Martinique), edited by Gauthier Delomez / Photo credits: Clarens SIFFROY / AFP 7:41 p.m., March 30, 2024
The French army has evacuated more than 240 people from Haiti, a country mired in a bloody gang war, to Martinique. While relief is obviously in order, some of these evacuees are thinking of their families remaining on the island.
In Haiti, armed gangs have almost taken control of the capital Port-au-Prince. It is in this context that France, with the help of three warships, evacuated 243 nationals, mostly French, but also Germans, Japanese, English and Haitians, to Martinique. While many of them say they are relieved to have been able to leave the island, some remain worried about their loved ones who remained behind.
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This is the case of Jean, Franco-Haitian, who thinks of his family still there. "Behind, there is a people. The hardest part is still to live. If we do not resolve this problem, it will start again or it will stay like this indefinitely", he believes at the microphone of Europe 1.
1,500 deaths in Haiti since the start of 2024
Gabriel, also a Haitian from Port-au-Prince, is now awaiting military intervention from the French army. “It’s only the capital that is blocked! We need intervention, that’s the solution,” he considers. “It was better to send the army instead of evacuating all these people, it cost France a lot more! You realize: three warships, and we spent four days in there” , relates this Haitian met by Europe 1.
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Since the start of 2024, more than 1,500 people have been killed in armed violence with gangs in Port-au-Prince.