International
Security is essential to be able to respond to the crisis in Haiti, warns PAHO
Security is indispensable to address the “complex” health and humanitarian situation in Haiti, plunged for years into a crisis that has been aggravated in more recent times by armed violence, warned the Pan American Health Organization (PAHo).
“Nothing can happen if there is insecurity,” the representative of PAHO in Haiti, the Colombian Óscar Barreneche, said categorically in a telephone interview with EFE.
The severity of the crisis affects vital sectors such as health and education and, although the most affected city is Port-au-Prince, other demarcations do not escape this situation either, said Barreneche, a doctor by profession.
Faced with this panorama, Barreneche called on the international community “not to forget the promised support” to the depressed country, which is preparing to soon receive the deployment of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS), which will lead Kenya and which has the approval of the United Nations.
“Without the return of security, it is difficult to guarantee services” in Haiti, he said.
For decades, this country, the poorest in America, has been going from crisis to crisis, including the one resulting from the powerful earthquake of 2010 that caused about 300,000 deaths, the outbreak of cholera that arose that same year and that ended the lives of thousands of people and the successive hurricanes that have only aggravated the situation.
Many times Haiti “has had to respond simultaneously to several crises at the same time,” which “puts pressure on the health system,” as is currently the case, when armed violence is added to the already deteriorated situation, which prevents professionals from providing an adequate service, this specialist said.
This “definitely affects the performance of the country,” which has the highest rate in maternal mortality in the region, according to Barreneche.
Haiti has “serious problems” of access to hospital care, medicines or vaccines due to the critical situation of insecurity, which also has consequences on health personnel, according to the PAHO representative, who, however, stressed that both the Government and humanitarian organizations “continue to work” to try to alleviate the crisis.
A good number of Haitian doctors have decided to go abroad, especially to the United States and Canada, fleeing the precarious situation.
In some areas it is estimated that between 15% and 20% of health personnel have emigrated, a percentage that can reach up to 30% in other departments of the Caribbean country, said Barreneche, who described the situation as “a hemorrhage of human resources” of health, although, in his opinion, it is something “understandable” given the current panorama.
This represents “a huge problem,” to which is added that only 18% of Haitian hospitals are operating at 100% of their capacity, which causes the saturation of services.
42% is not working or is closed and 37% is operating in a reduced way, explained the representative of PAHO, an organization that collaborates in centers such as La Paix University Hospital and Eliazar Germain Hospital, both in Port-au-Prince, in supplies or programs with pregnant women.
PAHO also cooperates with Haiti on issues such as cholera, the situation of internally displaced persons and in vaccination campaigns for preventable diseases, “fundamental to guarantee a minimum of health and well-being,” he said.
At the same time, this agency is working with the authorities in the implementation of measures in the face of possible emergency situations related to the hurricane season, which began on June 1.
In fact, Barreneche said, this week there has been a meeting “with all the humanitarian partners of the country” to “try to give the necessary support” to this issue, since this year’s is expected to be one of the most active and intense cyclonic seasons in decades.
International
Man arrested after deliberately driving into seven children in Osaka
Japanese police arrested a man on Thursday after he rammed his car into a group of seven schoolchildren in an apparent deliberate attack in the city of Osaka.
The children, who were on their way home from school, sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital. All seven remained conscious, according to local authorities.
An Osaka police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the suspect is a 28-year-old man from Tokyo. The officer shared statements the man made after his arrest: “I was fed up with everything, so I decided to kill people by driving into several elementary school children,” the suspect reportedly said.
The man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
The injured children, aged between seven and eight, included a seven-year-old girl who suffered a fractured jaw. The six other children—all boys—suffered minor injuries such as bruises and scratches and were undergoing medical evaluation.
Witnesses described the car as “zigzagging” before hitting the children. One witness told Nippon TV that a girl was “covered in blood” and the others appeared to have scratches.
Another witness said the driver, who was wearing a face mask, looked to be in shock when school staff pulled him from the vehicle.
Violent crimes are rare in Japan, though serious incidents do occur from time to time. In 2008, Tomohiro Kato drove a two-ton truck into pedestrians in Tokyo’s Akihabara district, then fatally stabbed several victims. Seven people were killed in that attack.
Internacionales
Clashes erupt during may day protests across France amid calls for better wages
May Day protests in France were marked by a heavy police presence and clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement in several cities.
In Paris, Lyon, and Nantes, thousands took to the streets to demand better wages, fairer working conditions, and to voice their dissatisfaction with President Emmanuel Macron’s government.
While the majority of the demonstrations remained peaceful, isolated confrontations broke out in some areas. Protesters threw objects at the police, prompting the use of tear gas and resulting in several arrests.
Videos showing police crackdowns circulated widely on social media, drawing criticism from labor unions and human rights advocates, who denounced the authorities’ response to the protests.
International
Kristi Noem credits Trump for mass migrant deportations by mexican president
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem claimed that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has deported “more than half a million” migrants due to pressure from former President Donald Trump.
During a cabinet meeting highlighting the “achievements” of Trump’s administration in its first 100 days, Noem asserted that under the Republican leader’s influence, “Mexico has finally come to the table” to negotiate on migration and fentanyl trafficking.
“The president of Mexico told me she has returned just over half a million people before they reached our border,” Noem stated, criticizing media reports that suggest the Biden administration deported more migrants than Trump’s.
“I wish those deportations were counted,” Noem added, “because those people never made it to our border—she sent them back because you made her.” She went on to thank Trump: “They never made it here because they got the message—because you were so aggressive.”
Noem has made controversial claims about Sheinbaum in the past, prompting the Mexican leader to refute them.
On April 1, Sheinbaum responded to one such statement by declaring, “The president answers to only one authority, and that is the people of Mexico,” after Noem said on Fox News that she gave Sheinbaum “a list of things Trump would like to see” and that Mexico’s actions would determine whether Trump granted tariff relief.
Man arrested after deliberately driving into seven children in Osaka
Clashes erupt during may day protests across France amid calls for better wages
Kristi Noem credits Trump for mass migrant deportations by mexican president
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
-
International3 days agoColombia sees deadliest surge in violence since FARC peace deal
-
International4 days agoNine dead after driver runs over crowd at Vancouver Street Festival
-
Central America3 days agoGuatemala sees road blockades amid protests against lawmaker pay hikes
-
International3 days agoConclave to choose pope Francis’ successor could begin in early may
-
International4 days agoKing Charles III expresses deep sadness after Vancouver festival tragedy that left nine dead
-
International3 days agoSpain’s PM calls for calm and patience amid ongoing blackout
-
International3 days agoMexican activist who exposed pornography ring found dead in Veracruz
-
International3 days agoMadrid carries out 286 elevator rescues amid massive blackout
-
International1 day agoVatican releases special “Sede Vacante” stamps ahead of papal transition
-
International1 day agoKristi Noem credits Trump for mass migrant deportations by mexican president
-
Internacionales7 hours agoClashes erupt during may day protests across France amid calls for better wages
-
International7 hours agoMan arrested after deliberately driving into seven children in Osaka