Haiti: an NGO reports the murder of at least 208 people between January and March 2024

At least 208 people died in Haiti Between January and March, including 13 police officers, another 158 were injured and 5 armed attacks were recorded, according to the latest report published this Wednesday by the NGO National Network for the Defense of Human Rights (Rnddh).

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The bodies of 55 of these victims, including that of a police officer, were discovered in Port-au-Prince, Delmas and Pétion-ville by local residents.

At least five armed attacks were recorded in Beudet, Croix-des-Bouquets, Bel-Air, La Saline, Pernier and Ganthier, according to the report titled ‘Catastrophic human rights situation from January to March 2024: the RNDDH gives voice to alarm’.

During the first three months of 2024, numerous cases of kidnappings were recorded and nine demonstrations were harshly repressed by agents of the Haitian National Police (PNH), during which at least four protesters died and 15 people were injured, including eight journalists. the report added.

At least 64 women and girls have been victims of sexual violence, including gang rapesaccording to combined data from the Rnddh, which, he clarified, is not exhaustive.

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Likewise, 83 private and public institutions and/or companies were attacked, vandalized or burned in Port-au-Prince and neighboring municipalities, including 19 police stations, five courts of peace and one court of first instance.

Bandits control the capital

During the period covered by this report, at least 13 toll plazas were installed by armed groups, six of which were in the communes of Port-au-Prince and Cité Soleiland the other seven were installed on or near national highways.

The homes of numerous citizens were looted and burned, especially in Port-au-Prince and Delmas.

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Thousands of victims of insecurity who were in camps had to take refuge in other places, including new camps that emerged. Two prison escapes and one police station escape were recorded.

Since February 29, 2024, in particular, under the pretext that the armed gang coalitions G-9 an Fanmi and Alye and G-pèp, grouped around a new federation called ‘Viv Ansanm’ (‘Living Together’) , lead a “revolution”, armed bandits kill, rape and kidnap countless people, trampling on the rights of the population and imposing terror.

“They continue to extort the population through their tolls, violating the right to free movement of all Haitians within the national territory and hindering the movement of goods and services”, according to the NGO.

Collusion between gangs and the police

The organization reiterated its position that the gangs could never have been so powerful without the ties of collusion they maintain with state authorities and part of the private business sector, and without the guarantee of impunity that they have enjoyed for several years.

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The police force has been facing enormous difficulties for some time. The PNH operates in a dysfunctional way due to the lack of leadership in its hierarchy, whose members have collusion links with groups, the NGO.

Hospitals and health centers can no longer operate due to insecurity, lack of supply and scarcity of fuel and medicines. Health authorities limit themselves to assessing the damage, without proposing any solution.

The first quarter of 2024 was catastrophic in terms of respect for human rights. But in reality, since Prime Minister Ariel Henry took office in 2021, insecurity, impunity, the trivialization of life and the lack of respect for human rights have been the order of the day, according to the non-governmental organization.

Source: Elcomercio

jack

I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.