Gang Uprising in Haiti
Haiti, along with several different Caribbean countries, have been struggling with gang violence for the longest of times. Unfortunately, it seems to continue to rise as the years progress, and with this, civilians constantly are in fear for their lives. Gangs in these countries are targeting everyone, including innocent civilians and women and young children.
However, as much as the leaders of these countries want to try to change things, it is constantly shut down each time. Unfortunately, there has been yet another instance in Haiti, where gang violence has reached an all-time high.
Current Situation in Haiti
Haiti has officially declared a state of emergency. There has been a massive jailbreak at one of their biggest prisons. There were around 3,600 inmates, and 3,500 or so have left the jail. This leaves the civilians at risk, as there are so many inmates that have been released and are terrorizing the country.
Around 300,000 or so families have had to flee Haiti as a result of the rising crime. Furthermore, in January alone, it was the highest in crime in two years.
The PM and his team are asking all available police officers to assist in retrieving the inmates and ensuring the safety of civilians across the country. However, this is certainly a very difficult task, as they can sometimes be very unpredictable, and very hard to catch.
The Future of This Violence
There is a hope that the fugitives are caught and brought to justice, but that is incredibly difficult considering the amount that escaped. It is going to be difficult to catch each one, and ensure the safety for everyone.
Additionally, many families are terrified to be in their own homes, let alone leave their homes because of this massive jailbreak. This may force even more families to leave their homes and reside elsewhere, as these fugitives are very unpredictable.
It is unfortunate that it seems that not much is being done to reduce the crime in countries of this nature. Haiti is unfortunately not the only country that suffers with this kind of violence. More needs to be done, and quickly.
Written by David Loran Jr
Sources:
CNN News: Haiti declares state of emergency after mass prison escape
BBC News: Haiti violence: Haiti gangs demand PM resign after mass jailbreak
Featured Image Courtesy of Alex Proimos’ Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Siri B.L’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
