International

Haiti: International Red Cross calls for increased effort

Photo: UNICEF

February 9^th |

Continuing cycles of armed violence, poor health care and food shortages have been identified by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as the scourges that most plague the Haitian population.

“We must intensify our collective efforts to respond to both the current emergency situation and long-term development needs,” the organization said in a statement Tuesday.

The Red Cross reports that at least 3 million Haitians are suffering from major humanitarian needs, such as lack of food and access to health services, amid increasing violence caused by the actions of the gangs that control the country.

The Caribbean island has experienced a serious insecurity problem since the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise.

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Last summer, following the announcement of the cancellation of fuel price subsidies, popular protests erupted, followed by the seizure of the country’s main port by criminal gangs.

On Wednesday, Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, reported his arrival in Haiti for a three-day visit.

Türk planea reunirse en Puerto Príncipe con funcionarios del gobierno, pero también con representantes del poder judicial, organizaciones de la sociedad civil y víctimas de violaciones de derechos humanos, informó Agence France-Presse.

The most recent wave of violence last week claimed the lives of more than two dozen police officers.

In 2022 alone, the UN reported 1,359 kidnappings and more than 2,000 killings in that nation, which was a one-third increase over 2021.

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Related Topics:Haïti International Red Cross

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