The International Organization for Migration estimated the number of people fleeing the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, within one month, to escape the escalation of gang attacks, at about 100,000 people.
Sharjah 24 – AFP:
The International Organization for Migration announced on Friday that about 100,000 people fled the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, within one month, to escape the escalation of gang attacks.
After collecting data at the most frequently used bus stations between March 8 and April 9, the organization noted that 94,821 people left the capital, particularly to go to the southern provinces, to which another 116,000 displaced people fled during recent months.
The latest figures issued by the organization confirmed that 53,000 people fled during the three weeks between March 8 and 27.
The organization indicated that these numbers do not necessarily reflect the total number of people fleeing, as some displaced people do not pass through data collection points or pass through them, while it is not possible to record their movement.
The International Organization for Migration stressed that the provinces to which those fleeing are heading do not have sufficient infrastructure, and the host communities do not have sufficient resources to be able to deal with the massive influxes from the capital.
Data indicate that 63% of those fleeing the capital, amounting to about 100,000 people, are originally internally displaced, and some of them sought refuge first with relatives within the capital region of Port-au-Prince, and some of them were displaced several times.
The International Organization for Migration noted a new phenomenon represented by the decision of those who had not previously been displaced to leave the capital.
The UN organization continued, “This also describes the deterioration of the situation in the capital, given that the decision to leave the capital can be relatively quicker for an already displaced person compared to someone who is still in his residence and decides to leave to seek asylum in the governorates.”
The vast majority, 78%, of the people interviewed by the International Organization for Migration, in the context of collecting data, indicated that they were leaving the capital because of the violence, and 66% confirmed that they would remain outside it as long as necessary.
For decades, Haiti has witnessed poverty, natural disasters, political instability, and violence carried out by gangs.
Since late February, Haiti, which was already suffering from a deep political and security crisis, has witnessed an escalation of violence, as several gangs united to attack strategic sites in the capital, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
Henry agreed to resign on March 11, 2024, and since then negotiations have been underway to form transitional authorities in the country.
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2024-04-12 20:01:53
