Port-Au-Prince residents sheltering in place as gang violence escalates

  • 8 months ago

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Transcript
00:00 Violence is spreading and the situation is getting worse by the day for Haitians living
00:05 in Port-au-Prince.
00:06 As gangs extend their control over the capital, residents are forced to find a new place to
00:11 live.
00:12 "Armed gangs took my house.
00:17 I'd been sheltering it in another neighbourhood, but they invaded it too."
00:20 "I was hit on my hand by a bullet.
00:25 A friend gave me a bit of money to buy these tablets, but other than that I have nobody
00:30 to help me."
00:37 Salino and Delmas 24 are two of the latest neighbourhoods to come under heavy fire.
00:43 If Salino falls, people fear other peaceful communities could come under gang control
00:48 too.
00:50 Residents have been erecting barricades, hoping that they can keep the gunmen away.
00:54 Across the city, there's a desperate plea for change.
00:58 Many people say the government isn't living up to its duties.
01:02 "The entire Republic must rise to make the Prime Minister take action.
01:07 We want elections that are free of violence."
01:10 "During Ariel Henry's three years in power, the population was murdered, kidnapped and
01:17 impoverished.
01:18 Today, the population is saying, 'No, we can't take it anymore.
01:21 We believe that all Haitians must unite to get rid of Ariel Henry.'"
01:28 Prime Minister Ariel Henry was charged with leading the country after the President, Jovenel
01:33 Moise, was assassinated in 2021.
01:37 Elections have been pushed back to an unspecified date for now.
01:41 Armed help is due to come in from Kenya, but it's unclear when.
01:44 The United Nations has given it the green light to send police forces to Haiti in an
01:49 attempt to unarm the gangs who have been reaping havoc for years.

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