Residents of the upscale Pétionville neighborhood on the outskirts of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, barricaded themselves in their homes on Wednesday, local media reported, citing heavy gunfire and a body found in the street.
Le Nouvelliste reported that at least 15 people were killed in the attack on several upscale hotels around the suburbs and the site of more than a dozen embassies, adding that armed men carried out the attack in the east of the city.
Pétionville is close to several hotels, and gang leader Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherichier threatened last week that he would go after hotel owners who hide conservative politicians behind their doors.
Although Prime Minister Ariel Henry said last week he would resign – a demand from the increasingly powerful gangs that have taken over Port-au-Prince’s streets – the violence has continued. International leaders have brokered the establishment of a presidential transition council, but its composition remains unclear.
State Department officials said early last week that the committee was expected to be finalized within days, but some factions rejected the plan or were unable to unite behind a leader, while those excluded criticized the move as They believe corrupt group members provide power.
Meanwhile, neighboring countries have stepped up border security and embassies have been evacuating foreigners. On Tuesday, the Dominican Republic said it had evacuated nearly 300 people, including personnel from the European Union, World Bank and International Monetary Fund. With airports closed, the United States said it was evacuating its citizens by helicopter.
U.S. Army Gen. Laura Richardson said on Tuesday that if the U.S. government decides to become more involved in a planned international security mission that was requested by the Haitian government in 2022 but is still pending, troops are ” Be prepared,” but there are currently no such plans. deploy.
Haitian activist groups published a letter on Tuesday accusing the government of a lack of transparency and saying the coup took place as the capital is paralyzed by gang violence, without elaborating.
Hundreds of thousands have been displaced within Haiti, thousands have been killed by rape, arson and kidnapping for ransom, food prices have soared and hospitals are running short of critical supplies such as blood and oxygen.
Ezechiel Alexandre, the alleged leader of the Baz Pilat gang, told supporters on Tuesday about his gang’s control of Carrefour Feuilles, a densely populated area that was contested last August Attacks by the rival Gran Ravine gang left thousands homeless.
“People know they have to go home and repair their houses,” said Alexander, who escaped from a state prison that was recently emptied of inmates. “They’re sleeping in shelters, and that’s not good.”
(Reporting by Sarah Moran in Mexico City; Editing by Rosalba O’Brien)
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
