HIGHLIGHTS
- In gang fights over territory in Cité Soleil, one child killed, five wounded
- Anti-government demonstrations continue
- Two WFP trucks attacked in Cap Haitïen
- MSF: time passes, medical needs persist
I. GENERAL SITUATION
Associated Press reports today indicated that Haitian officials are warning of heavy rains that could trigger floods and landslides. Disaster prevention officials issued an ‘orange’ alert beginning Friday to last for five consecutive days, in response to a weather system now forming near the neighbouring island of Cuba. Such an alert represents the second-highest warning. Areas most at risk include Port-au-Prince, Jacmel, Léogâne and others already ravaged by the January earthquake.
MINUSTAH met with various partners today to formulate a strategy to respond to the potential threat. Although the surface trough covering an area from the Bahamas to Hispaniola is expected to dissipate over the next twenty-four hours, the persistent meteorological low could produce gale force winds.
While the security environment continues to be characterized by a generally low level of criminal activity, occasional spikes have occurred recently. Cité Soleil currently offers a stage to gangs fighting over territory. Reports suggest that this violence may simply represent a resurgence of an existing rivalry, the security situation has been rapidly deteriorating over the last three days. Shootings between ‘Ti Ayiti’ and ‘New-York’ gang members have been reported now for three consecutive days. This morning, five members of Ti Ayiti were reportedly transported to the Sainte-Cathérine Hospital in Cité Soleil after being injured by bullets. The official representative of the hospital only confirmed that a certain number of people bearing bullet wounds had been admitted, revealing no further details. A 12-year-old boy also fell victim to this rivalry, killed by a stray bullet during an exchange of gunfire. MINUSTAH Military, Police and FPUs are monitoring the situation in the area. Experience would suggest a renewal of gang violence after MINUSTAH forces withdraw.
II. SECURITY AND PUBLIC ORDER
The overall security situation in Haiti remains stable, however anti-governmental demonstrations by the political opposition continue. A recent rekindling of criminal violence has also provoked renewed concerns.
In the last 24 hours, three demonstrations were reported, all of which remained were peaceful. In the first, 400 members of the movement ‘Pour Sauver le Bas-Artibonite’ (MOSOBA) organized a peaceful march in Gonaïves to protest against the extension of the presidential mandate and criticize alleged governmental mismanagement. Meanwhile in the Carrefour district of Port-au-Prince, 100 people took the streets to demand the departure of the president and the restitution of his predecessor. At a third event in the Pétion-Ville suburb of the capital, 300 people wearing red tee-shirts and carrying a black/red/black flag walked to Place Boyer to show their support for the return of Jean-Claude Duvalier and his participation to the incoming elections.
On 21 May at 1615 hours, a WFP convoy of two trucks was pelted with stones by the local population in Cap Haitïen (North) on Route 300. MINUSTAH Forces fired three warning shots to disperse the crowd, after which the convoy continued to its final destination. A similar incident had occurred on the same road the previous day during the escort of two Caritas trucks. Also in Cap Haitïen, MINUSTAH Police reported that unidentified individuals attempted to loot a humanitarian aid truck belonging to the NGO ‘Appel de Détresse’. A quick UNPOL/HNP intervention prevented the looters from their intent. No arrests were made.
In the last 24 hours, UNPOL and HNP conducted 289 joint patrols and 53 checkpoints throughout the country. A total of 36 arrests and another two escapees arrest were reported. MINUSTAH military conducted 936 security operations involving 5,019 troops and 12 maritime patrols, sailing 188 nautical miles.
III. HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS
MSF announced that it had provided medical care to 137,000 patients since 12 January. , MSF has provided medical care to 137,000 patients. Diseases treated in primary healthcare facilities today include respiratory and water-borne illnesses, such as malaria and diarrhoea. Since late March, 71 suspected cases of typhoid fever have been treated at the Choscal Hospital, in the Cité Soleil neighbourhood. In a country where 60 percent of the medical facilities suffered serious damage or were destroyed, MSF is working to meet second-line medical needs by managing or supporting hospitals and specialized medical facilities. Three specialised MSF facilities provide functional rehabilitation therapy, including physical therapy, psychological assistance and other follow-up services. Psychologists have also treated 69,000 earthquake victims at MSF medical facilities and in camps.
While injuries sustained during the earthquake still require orthopaedic and reconstructive surgery, everyday medical needs are also returning to the fore. For example, obstetrical cases have again become a priority, with 635 complicated deliveries, including 131 caesarean births, in April alone. The same month, MSF treated 81 victims of sexual violence in its Port-au-Prince facilities. Care includes psychological and medical assistance, specifically including vaccination against Hepatitis B and HIV/AIDS preventive treatment.
With the arrival of the rainy season and imminent threat of hurricanes, MSF is gradually shifting its medical activities from tents to permanent or semi-permanent structures. In Léogâne, for example, construction of a 120-bed hospital, built out of containers, began in early May to replace the hospital that had been destroyed in the earthquake. In Jacmel, where the hospital was largely destroyed, the surgery, maternity, internal medicine and paediatrics departments have now been organised into a semi-permanent structure. Extensive rehabilitation work has also been performed at public medical facilities that MSF supports.
Finally, three months prior to hurricane season, MSF is preparing to meet a possible increase in needs for emergency treatment related to the arrival of the rainy season and a possible worsening of the medical situation in Port-au-Prince and throughout the country. Additional medical and logistical supplies have been ordered and will be available in the coming weeks based on the needs that may arise.
In the last 24 hours, MINUSTAH military has conducted 12 humanitarian assistance missions involving 71 troops. These missions included food and water distributions benefiting over 8,724 people.
IV. JOTC
The Joint Operations and Tasking Centre (JOTC) continued to respond to requests for assistance from humanitarian partners, the Government and the Project Management Coordination Cell (PMCC). To date, 754 requests for support have been received and 473 completed. Most of the requests pertain to the provision of security and engineering support.
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