Dangerous escalation of violence, French President's "slip of the tongue" angers Port-au-Prince

In recent days, increased violence in the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince has claimed the lives of at least 150 people, bringing the total number of deaths to more than 4,500 since the beginning of the year.

Ongoing violence and widespread unrest are exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Haiti. (Source: AP)

TRT World television reported that in a report released on November 20, United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said that at least 150 people were killed, 92 injured and about 20,000 people were forced to leave their homes in the past week.

Additionally, an estimated 4 million people in the capital Port-au-Prince are being held hostage as gangs now control all major routes in and out of the capital.

The latest violence has brought "the total number of verified casualties this year to 4,544 killed and 2,060 injured", the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said. In addition, some 700,000 people have been internally displaced, half of them children.

Mr. Turk warned that continued violence and widespread unrest were exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Haiti with severe food and water shortages and the spread of infectious diseases.

Most areas of the capital Port-au-Prince are currently under the control of armed gangs, making it difficult for aid agencies to reach those in need. Gregoire Goodstein, the director of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Haiti, said humanitarian organizations only have access to about 20% of Port-au-Prince.

According to IOM estimates, in just the past four days, more than 20,000 people in Port-au-Prince have been displaced by the increased violence - marking the largest displacement in more than a year. Notably, more than 50% of those displaced are children.

Regarding the situation in Haiti, the government of the Caribbean country recently summoned the French Ambassador in Port-au-Prince to protest the "unacceptable" comments of French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Brazil (November 18-19).

According to AFP , although Haiti did not clarify these comments, according to a video recorded at the G20 Summit and shared on social media on November 21, President Macron criticized Haiti's Transitional Council for dismissing the Caribbean nation's Prime Minister Garry Conille.

President Macron said Mr Conille, a former UN development expert, had "integrity" and France wanted him to continue leading the Haitian government.

Paris has not commented on Port-au-Prince's move.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/haiti-bao-luc-leo-thang-nguy-hiem-tong-thong-phap-dinh-va-mieng-khien-port-au-prince-noi-gian-294665.html