24 Sep 2018 | 07:39 PM UTC
Haiti: At least 535 killed in Port-au-Prince since January 2018 /update 1
At least 535 people killed in Port-au-Prince, including 415 from gunshots, from January to mid-September 2018; further violence expected in the near-term
Event
As of mid-September, at least 535 people have been killed in the Port-au-Prince area, including 415 by gunshots, since January 2018. Among the areas most affected by the gun violence are Portail Léogâne, Bicentennaire, and Martissant, according to the Justice and Peace Commission (JILAP).
Further incidents of violent unrest - including gang violence, protests, and associated roadblocks - are to be expected in these and other areas in Port-au-Prince in the near-term. A heightened security presence and localized traffic disruptions are to be anticipated near demonstration sites. Clashes between protesters and police, as well as between rival gang members and gangs and police, are likely.
Context
On September 10, the UN warned of the significant risk of major unrest in Haiti, largely caused by public frustration over the alleged benefits allotted to public servants and the alleged misuse of PetroCaribe funds, as well as gang violence in Port-au-Prince.
Numerous demonstrations have been held in recent months to demand the resignation of President Jovenel Moïse, the liberation of people arrested during violent unrest that broke out July 6-8, and the arrest of individuals implicated in the PetroCaribe corruption scandal.
Advice
Individuals in Haiti, especially those in Port-au-Prince, are advised to monitor the situation, report all suspicious objects and behavior to the police, strictly avoid all protests and associated roadblocks due to the likelihood of violence, and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities and their home governments.
