The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Tuesday said that people in Haiti are fleeing their homes in the commune of Tabarre, following armed attacks last week.
UN Deputy Spokesperson, Farhan Haq, quoting the International Organization for Migration (IOM), said attacks on November 13 and 14th forced more than 600 people from their homes. Haq said that while most remain in Tabarre, hosted by local families, ‘these incidents come as the security situation in the capital continues to deteriorate.
‘Attacks in the residential areas of Thomassin and Fermathe – previously considered relatively safe – drove more than 1,800 people to seek safety elsewhere.’
Haq said that by the end of October, the number of people displaced by violence had reached 1.4 million, the highest level recorded in the country and up by more than a third from last year.
‘With insecurity rising, we urge all parties to protect civilians and ensure safe, rapid, unhindered humanitarian access to every community in need,’ Haq added.
On Monday, the leader of the ‘Viv Ansanm’ terrorist gang coalition, Jimmy Chérizier, called on members of the population to stay indoors as the group intends to confront law enforcement officials in the streets of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
His statement comes after the PNH, the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAD’H), and the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) launched a large-scale joint operation earlier this month against the ‘400 Mawozo’ criminal gang, blamed by the authorities for placing the communes of Tabarre and Croix-des-Bouquets, north of Port-au-Prince, under hostage.