Things are getting intense in Haiti's capital. 🇭🇹 UN humanitarians sounded the alarm yesterday, reporting a scary uptick in armed violence in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, specifically hitting the neighborhood of Cite Soleil.
The situation is critical. Since Sunday, more than 5,300 people have been forced to flee their homes. Many are crowding into 12 temporary shelters, while others are relying on communities that are already stretched to their limits. 🆘
One of the most heartbreaking parts? The impact on healthcare. Doctors Without Borders had to make the tough call to evacuate and suspend operations at the Cite Soleil Hospital. Imagine this: they treated over 40 gunshot patients in less than 12 hours and were sheltering 800 people before they had to pull out. 🏥💔
This isn't a one-time thing. This same area dealt with violence back in March and April, which displaced nearly 8,000 people. It's a cycle that's putting massive pressure on the few essential services that are still running.
Even with the danger, humanitarian teams aren't giving up. They're currently on the ground conducting assessments and coordinating a collective response to help those who've been displaced. 🌍
Farhan Haq, the deputy spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, shared a sobering warning during a press briefing: once violence flares up in Haiti, it's incredibly hard to stop. The UN is hoping to get the parties involved to step back, but the escalating tension in the capital remains a major concern.
Reference(s):
UN humanitarians warn of uptick in armed violence in Haiti's capital
cgtn.com
