Haiti in chaos/ EU evacuates diplomatic personnel from Haiti

2024-03-12 09:14:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Haiti is again descending into anarchy due to gang violence. While the prime minister is abroad, Western diplomats are leaving the capital.

Against the backdrop of escalating violence in Haiti, the EU has evacuated all diplomatic personnel from this Caribbean country. An EU spokesman in Brussels said that the employees of the diplomatic team have been transferred out of Haiti to a safe place. This step was argued with the "dramatic deterioration of the security situation" in Haiti. The EU is "extremely concerned" about the developments in recent days in Haiti, the spokesman in Brussels said. Meanwhile, the US is also withdrawing diplomatic personnel from Port-au-Prince and strengthening security at the embassy with additional security forces. .

On Sunday (10.03.2024), the Foreign Ministry in Berlin declared that the German embassy and permanent representative have left the Caribbean country for the Dominican Republic. A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry argued this measure with the "tense and unpredictable security situation". He called the situation in Haiti "quite tense", the circumstances are "terrible". He added: "There are a number of large and well-armed gangs that are challenging the state apparatus." The Haitian government has invited international protection troops to the country to help restore security and order. Among other things, Kenya has expressed willingness to support, the spokesperson further noted.

Criminal groups are aiming for power

For days, Haiti has been experiencing a wave of violence by armed gangs, which for the most part are controlling the city of Prince as well as the streets in other parts of the country, are attacking police stations, prisons and courts. About a week ago, armed groups broke into the prison in Port-au-Prince and according to media reports, they allowed about 3,600-3,700 prisoners to escape from the prison. Other prisoners escaped from the second-largest prison in the town of Croix des Bouquets.

Shortly before this, some gangs declared an uprising against the government. Against the backdrop of the deteriorating security situation, the government declared a state of emergency on Sunday a week ago. The violence in Haiti escalated when Prime Minister Ariel Henry was on a trip abroad to Kenya.

Armed gangs in the country demand the resignation of Henry, who should have left the post as early as February. So far he has not managed to return from Kenya to Haiti. Henry in February agreed with the opposition to govern together until new elections are held.

Risk of civil war

Gang violence, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), has caused about 15,000 people to leave the capital Port-au-Prince in one week. According to UN data, around 1,200 people have been killed and nearly 700 others have been injured in Haiti since the beginning of the year. Over 313,000 people fled. All basic state care such as health care is on the verge of collapse. Thousands are cut off from humanitarian aid.

The church in the impoverished Caribbean nation considers the country on the brink of civil war. Law enforcement is powerless against armed gangs, which have developed into an organized army, Archbishop Max Leroy Mesidor told the international aid organization Church in Danger. In some regions, civil defense units have been created to fight gangs. "There is a risk of a civil war breaking out. There are many weapons in circulation," warned the archbishop of the capital Port-au-Prince and the president of the episcopal conference.

Millions of people affected by hunger

The humanitarian crisis in Haiti has recently reached ever greater proportions. The country, according to UN data, suffers from a lack of food. Almost half of the population, about 4.9 million people, according to these data, do not have enough food. Haiti is considered one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere.

The heads of state and government of the Caribbean community have gathered in Jamaica to examine the possibilities of support for Haiti and to promote political dialogue./ DW