More than two dozen killed after attempted attack on Haiti suburb
More than two dozen killed after attempted attack on Haiti suburb
The Facts
On Tuesday, police and residents successfully fought off an overnight attempt to attack the wealthy hillside neighborhood of Petion-Ville, a suburb of the capital Port-au-Prince. In the morning, the bodies of over two dozen suspected gang members were lying dead in the streets.
Residents mobilized self-defense groups, some armed with machetes and hammers, barricading the streets and requesting non-neighbors to leave, in an effort to protect the district from armed gangs attempting to break in and take over the residential area.
The Spin
The cruelty and anarchy in Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, are unparalleled. Violent gangs has taken control over several more districts in the city, and the violence is now spreading to the more affluent suburban areas. On Tuesday, the police, backed by civilians who formed local resistance groups, twarted a deadly gang assault with the intention of seizing control of outlying districts. The people have demonstrated incredible determination not to give the armed groups an additional foothold.
Just days after the inauguration of Prime Minister Fils-Aimé ́s new government, the violence has escalated out of control. Jimmy "Barbecue" Chérizier, the gang leader, is on the offensive, and armed thugs have driven away 20K new people from their homes in just a week. The humanitarian crisis, which already resulted in over 700K people being internally displaced, is rapidly intensifying, as it has become too dangerous for NGOs to deliver food and medicine to those in need. There is no end to anarchy. Clearly, there isn't enough police around to provide security and restore order. Haiti needs outside help. The world community must act now.
