During her recent visit to New York, Ulrika Richardson, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti, in an interview for UN Info on the situation in Haiti, declared "[…] We can say that in the country there are two realities. There is a reality in Port-au-Prince that is very alarming where gangs continue their influence, their control of many neighborhoods in the capital. This means that for the population, life is almost impossible, with the risk of being killed by stray bullets, but also of being attacked and raped.

Many neighborhoods are completely under the control of gangs who impose very brutal violence and they do not at all prevent themselves from using gang rape against women, children. They recruit children into their ranks, and that is extremely worrying.

There are many internally displaced persons; the number in Haiti is estimated at more than 700,000. People are forced to flee their homes and neighborhoods and so the situation is very critical, especially in the capital.

On the other hand, the reality is a little different in the rest of the country where life goes on, even if there are many displaced people fleeing to the South and even to the North [...]"

Interview with Ulrika Richardsona :

HL/ HaitiLibre