On Thursday, Haiti's government announced the creation of an inter-ministerial task force to assist thousands of citizens who have fled their homes due to gang-related violence in Port-au-Prince.
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Social Affairs Minister Guy Francois stated the task force’s objective is to achieve greater cohesion among the different institutions that aid nearly 17,000 displaced citizens.
The Carrefour Sports Center hosts the largest group of about 10,000 people who fled the gang conflicts that broke out in early June in the Martissant area, at the southern entrance to the capital.
Culture and Communication Minister Pradel Henriquez described the current displaced situation as a true humanitarian crisis. He assured that President Jovenel Moise aims to take care of them until they return to their homes.
Since June 1, conflicts between gangs have increased due to a reconfiguration of alliances between groups and the dispute for control of the Metropolitan territory.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) holds that over a third part of Port-au-Prince is currently affected by gang violence.
So far, the clashes between gangs have caused 50 deaths. Citizen insecurity, however, could increase in the coming weeks in a country that has been mired in an economic and political crisis for years.