Over the past three days (February 5-7), Port-au-Prince and other major cities have been the scene of unrest and popular violence, causing major disruptions to UN and NGO humanitarian operations. The demonstrations were marked by violence, roadblocks and looting, leading to clashes with the police which left several injured and dead, notably in Port-au-Prince, Ouanaminthe and Mirabelais.

Humanitarian operations have been suspended or slowed down, which has had an impact on the assistance planned for the population, particularly displaced people.

Access to the sites of displaced people is difficult for humanitarian partners and the distribution of humanitarian aid to the South is compromised by difficulties in accessing the Port.

A humanitarian organization was looted in the South department, seriously hampering its operations in the coming days.

Impact on health:

The Health Cluster reports that the University of Peace Hospital in Port-au-Prince admitted around ten injured people. An emergency plan has been activated at the University Hospital and the Tabarre hospital to deal with any massive influx of injured people.

Impact on education:

Since mid-January 2024, protests and gang violence have led to the temporary closure of more than 1,000 schools across the country, notably in Port-au-Prince and urban areas in the West, Grand' Anse, the North-East, Nippes and Artibonite.

Impact on food security:

The unrest affected trade and commerce activities, including the supply of food items. According to a recent study by the World Food Program (WFP), weeks of insecurity have led to a increase in food prices of 23% in the Sud and Nippes departments. Around 90,000 people across the country were affected by this price increase. limiting their ability to access basic products. The continuation of protests and blockades could further deteriorate the food situation of the population.

Impact on transport:

Road and air transport have been severely disrupted, with the cancellation of humanitarian flights organized by UNHAS and internal commercial flights reducing the travel capacity of humanitarian actors and populations.

Roadblocks imposed by protesters and gangs and restrictions on the movement of people, including health workers, have impacted people's access to health services.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41621-haiti-flash-3rd-days-of-demonstrations-violence-deaths-and-destruction.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41611-haiti-flash-2nd-day-of-demonstrations-update-on-the-situation-in-the-country.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41604-haiti-flash-the-country-at-the-time-of-anti-government-demonstrations.html

HL/ HaitiLibre