:quality(75)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/elcomercio/OZ4U3BG665HHLHXYMYMWGMGJ2I.jpg "Haitians demonstrate against kidnappings and the wave of violence")
Hundreds of people demonstrated this Thursday in Port-au-Prince to protest against indiscriminate kidnappings and against the serious wave of violence affecting the capital of Haiti.
Protesters blocked the avenue John Brownin the sector of Laluewith burning tires to protest several kidnappings that have occurred in recent days in the region.
Look: Ex-Haitian senator suspected of Moise’s murder arrives extradited to Miami
Members of the Police went to the scene and dispersed the demonstrators by firing live ammunition, according to an Efe journalist.
In recent days, kidnappings have multiplied in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, committed by the numerous armed gangs that control the poor neighborhoods of the capital.
On April 24, a war broke out between the 400 Mawozo and Chen Mechan gangs for control of several neighborhoods in the Cul-de-Sac area, in the north of the capital.
The clashes have caused at least 188 deaths, including 92 civilians and 96 gang members, while 12 people are missing, 113 were injured and 49 were kidnapped in these three weeks, according to the most recent balance of the UN.
International organizations and NGOs have denounced that there have been beheadings, burning people alive in their homes and in the middle of the street, murders of minors and rapes of children, among other crimes.
Thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes because of the conflict, some have taken refuge with relatives in other areas of Port-au-Prince or in other towns, others have stayed in schools or sleep on the streets.
Haiti is going through a serious political, economic and social crisis, aggravated by the proliferation of armed gangs that have taken over numerous poor neighborhoods, where they impose their law on the population with extreme violence.
Source: Elcomercio
