Highlights: In Haiti, cultural and educational buildings targeted by gangs. Unesco this week condemned attacks on teaching centers and educational and cultural institutions. Gang attacks on the capital Port-au-Prince - which they largely control - intensify. The situation is considered “ cataclysmic ” by the UN, with 1,554 killed during the first three months of 2024.. The population is also facing a serious humanitarian crisis, with shortages of food, medicine and other products. The Transition Council is still awaited.

Unesco this week condemned attacks on teaching centers and educational and cultural institutions in Haiti while gang attacks on the capital Port-au-Prince...

In Haiti, cultural and educational buildings targeted by gangs

Unesco this week condemned attacks on teaching centers and educational and cultural institutions in Haiti as gang attacks on the capital Port-au-Prince - which they largely control - intensify.

An armored vehicle patrols the general hospital area, April 2, 2024. AP - Odelyn Joseph

By: RFI with AFP

Armed gangs

stormed

the National Library of

Haiti

, located in the capital, Port-au-Prince, on Wednesday April 3, a new illustration of the spiral of violence in this Caribbean country. After a few days of relative calm, the gangs resumed their attacks on Monday in several districts of the capital. Last week, they attacked and looted two universities also located in the capital.

Attacks on cultural and educational buildings, condemned by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). “

Almost all schools are closed and the most symbolic, such as the National School of Arts, the École Normale Supérieure (ENS), in charge of teacher training, all these institutions have been attacked, I think on purpose, to attract the attention of the public but especially of international actors,

alerts Khadim Sylla, the UNESCO education coordinator for Haiti at the microphone of

Christophe Paget

In the same way for the attack on the national archives, when we know that the Haitian documentary heritage has almost universal importance, in particular because of the Revolution of 1804

Read alsoPress review: the UN evokes a risk of genocide in Haiti

Unesco calls for an end to attacks. “

We first address the population, to express our solidarity. And then to international actors to sound the alarm about the urgency of the situation in Haiti. And also to the current authorities, because the transition has not yet been made,

recalls the UNESCO representative.

It is also a way of raising awareness among the next leaders who will be responsible for leading the transition.

The Transition Council is still awaited

Three health facilities were also looted by armed gangs on March 26 and 27, the UN Office of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a separate statement.

In late February, powerful Haitian gang leaders, who now control much of Port-au-Prince, teamed up to attack police stations, prisons, the airport and the seaport to push for an exit Prime Minister Ariel Henry. The latter announced on March 11 that he would resign to make way for a transition council. But the formation of this council has still not been finalized, due to disagreements between political parties and other stakeholders who should appoint the next prime minister and doubts about the very legality of such a body.

The situation is considered “

cataclysmic

” by the UN, with 1,554 killed during the first three months of 2024. The population is also facing a serious humanitarian crisis, with shortages of food, medicine and other products. basic.

In Haiti, cultural and educational buildings targeted by gangs

In Haiti, cultural and educational buildings targeted by gangs

The Transition Council is still awaited

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