Haitian bishops are appealing for peace after months of violence and a pointy deterioration within the situation as gangs deepen their control of the capital Port-au-Prince.
Archbishop Max Leroys Mésidor of Port-au-Prince, President of the Haitian Bishops’ Conference, told Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that the violence “has taken a serious turn” for the reason that start of the month.
The UN reports that tens of 1000’s of individuals have fled their homes in recent weeks and that offer chains are collapsing.
Children are especially vulnerable, because the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports that they account for over half of Haiti’s 700,000 internally displaced people. According to UNICEF, gang recruitment of kids has risen by 70 per cent within the last yr.
In response to the escalation in violence, the UN has evacuated some staff from the country.
The bishops are calling for those in power to revive peace to the country.
“Everyone is on their guard – all of us feel threatened,” said Archbishop Mésidor, who is predicated in Port-au-Prince.
The bishops said in an announcement that “Toussaint Louverture Airport is closed, cutting us off from the remaining of the world”, and that the capital is “paralysed”.
“We cannot hope to reap peace by sowing violence,” it said.
“Peace is above all a present of God, but it surely equally demands the efforts of all people of goodwill.”
They continued: “We appeal to those that are answerable for governing the town to act with determination to re-establish security and guarantee the protection of residents, in step with their primary mission of serving the common good.”
“We also invite members of the federal government, members of civil society and protagonists from all sides, armed or unarmed, to recognise that it’s time to resolve this problem of ongoing violence.
“Something should be done.”
