The people in Haiti say they are living in hell, as reported in El Dia. There is little work, fuel and food. The economic situation is at its most critical now that gangs have worsened the culture of violence in many urban areas in Haiti.
To continue to worse the situation, last week former-Haitian-policeman-turned-gang-leader Jimmy Cherizier (Barbecue) warned parents not to send their children to school. The school year would open in Haiti on 3 October 2022. A report in Listin Diario says that border schools in the Dominican Republic where Haitian children study for free are also in danger.
Haiti Libre reports that the Professional Association of Banks (APB) that groups banks in Haiti has announced that due to the severe fuel crisis facing the country, from 3 October 2022, banks will only be open to the public on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The banks say this scheduled is dependent on fuel sourcing.
Adding to the worsening situation, eight people are said to have died of cholera, after a first case was reported. Cholera first entered Haiti imported by Nepalese soldiers who were sent to Haiti as part of the United Nations Stabilization Mission (Minustah), the multinational force sent to replace the Police in Haiti. The disease spread to 520,000 persons at the time, killing at least 7,000.
Meanwhile, the Dominican army reports sending more troops to the border points. On social media, a video circulates, establishing that the Dominican military is not prepared for an armed confrontation with Haiti because it doesn’t have trained troops nor weapons for any military defense of scale.
Meanwhile, the Abinader administration continues with the Ministry of Defense plan to invest heavily in the building of a simple block and wire fence to separate key points with Haiti. On binational market days, all Haitians are free to enter without documentation. There is no control on who leaves.
Read more:
El Dia
Listin Diario
Haiti Libre
El Caribe
El Caribe
3 October 2022