Gender-Based Violence In Haiti Feared To Increase

In a desperate measure to survive the aftermath of the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that hit Haiti last month, the island’s residents could find themselves resorting to violence—especially with girls and women—a humanitarian organisation has warned. In a press release, Save the Children has pointed out the situation for children in Les Cayes, which is “getting more desperate by the day.” “Even before the earthquake, gender based violence was seen as one of the highest risks for girls and women in the southern province, with sexual exploitation prevalent in some parts and women afraid to go outside in the evening,” Save the Children said, adding that usually, when they end up becoming victims, the girls and women keep their silence, fearing retaliation or stigma from their community. After the quake, thousands are still “sleeping outside and in dire need of food, clean water, shelter and mental health support.” There is shortage of electricity, and facilities like toilets and the ones for healthcare and medical attention. “These circumstances could drive women and girls to resort to desperate measures such as succumbing to sexual exploitation or child labour to survive,” Save the Children said. Save the Children is calling on the international community to ensure the humanitarian response to the earthquake is adequately funded, including the care of survivors of gender based violence, and to support the safe and unhindered access of aid organisations to the hardest hit communities.

Gangs Take Over Haiti

Meanwhile, in a separate Bloomberg report, several gangs have been struggling to fill in the void left by years of economic collapse and political turmoil that was exacerbated by the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse.

The power struggle of these gangs have paralyzed the most essential services in the island, such as healthcare.

Julien Bartoletti, Head of Doctors without Borders in Haiti, told Bloomberg that his organization was forced to close its 15-year-old hospital in Martissant this summer after it came under gang gunfire. At least three staff members have been kidnapped, one murdered and dozens are among the 20,000 Haitians who’ve fled due to gang threat.

“You have front lines, with gangs against gangs,” he said in an interview with the news outler. “In Martissant, you have an area with no people and destroyed houses. It’s empty.”