‘We live in misery.’ Haitians struggle to survive as country spirals in chaos

John: Tonight there is violence and unrest all over the world, from the Middle East to West Africa to the Caribbean, which is where we begin. In Haiti, the situation seems to be getting progressively worse. The gangs control half of the

country

's territory and most of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Last week, the kidnapping of an American nurse working for a Christian humanitarian group and her daughter was reported. And the State Department has ordered non-emergency workers and families of all US government employees to leave as soon as possible because it was not safe. But for many Haitians, leaving is not an option.

Dozens of families fleeing the gangs that have invaded their neighborhoods had sought refuge in the courtyard of the United States embassy in Port-au-Prince. Melanie: We have nowhere to stay. The bandits kicked us out of our house. They rape us even if we are old, even the little ones are raped too, I had to run to come last night. I had a fever, I was shaking, I had never experienced anything like this. We are in

misery

. Resident: I don't know the reason for the violence. The gangs simply shoot and demand control of the area. They took our house and we are on the street.

We want help to return home. John: On Wednesday they fled again, this time from the police, who used tear gas to force them to leave. More than 160,000 Haitians have been displaced by violence. Many now

live

with relatives or are crowded into makeshift shelters. Joseph: This is an extremely catastrophic situation. It's

misery

. Nobody comes to check on us. We

live

in misery, we cannot find food, there is no drinking water. We do not live like humans, we are humiliated. John: The Haitian police and security forces are outnumbered and outgunned. They have

struggle

d to contain the gangs since President Jovenel Moise was assassinated two years ago, plunging the

country

into even greater

chaos

.

The current Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, has repeatedly postponed the elections. There is not a single elected official in the government. In Port-au-Prince, protests often turn violent. The international community is struggling to find a solution. Earlier this month, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres renewed his call to create a multinational force to curb gang violence, something Haitian Prime Minister Henri has been calling for since October. Second. General Guterres: We cannot forget the Haitian people. The world must take a step forward. John: The UN Security Council has given Guterres until mid-August to propose options to combat Haiti's gangs. Gary Pierre Pierre is the founder and editor of the Haitian Times, an English-language weekly newspaper.

Gary, we've gone from crisis to crisis, cascading crisis in Haiti for a while. Does this time feel different? Do you think we have entered a new phase? Gary: Well, absolutely, John, and thank you for having me. I mean, the situation has gone from bad to worse. Now, with the clip you played, people are desperate. They go to the US embassies, the courtyard and the entrance doors, thinking that they will be safe there. So this is where we are. And while the UN Security Council decides what to do. John: How much longer can Haiti endure this? Gary: Well, he still hasn't been able to stand it for the last three years.

It continues to endure because the situation is complex, because since 1994 we have had two interventions in Haiti and one from the United States. And then another from the UN. And they haven't gone very well. So right now a lot of people are scared and nervous about what to do because no one wants to suffer another failed intervention of some kind. That doesn't really solve the problem. And so now people want to make sure that whatever needs to be done is something that works for the Haitian people and for the international community, because we simply cannot repeat the same old thing.

John: Given that legacy and the shadow of previous interventions, would an international security force work? Would this be an answer? Gary: The question is not whether it will work. What is a long-term strategy? How can we ensure that gangs reintegrate into society and are not left waiting for whatever force to arrive? And then when that force inevitably goes away because it has to go? What happens next? Medium and long-term situation in Haiti? Will we return ten years later to try to pacify the situation again? Nobody wants that. John: Taking into account again the memories of the landing of the Marines in 1994 and the entry of the United Nations Force after the earthquake, would the Haitian people welcome the arrival of an international force?

Gary: Well, it depends. I mean, people in Haiti, yes, the diaspora, Haitian-Americans are very, very skeptical about the motives of the international community when it comes to Haiti, whether they have the right policy, whether they really care about helping Haiti, or It's something that they're going to invest billions of dollars in that doesn't really help the situation at all? And you can understand the skepticism. John: Why hasn't Prime Minister Henri held an election? Gary: The situation is unsustainable. People are not safe in their homes. So, to be honest, I don't know how he is going to organize the elections.

First of all, it is necessary to pacify, return the country to normality, and then organize elections. And we are not being honest about the election situation. I think the United States government believes that elections are what constitutes a democracy. In the case of Haiti, this is not the case. Above all, we must build institutions. And then you can have a climate conducive to elections and then you can have real democracy. You can hold elections whenever you want. But that doesn't mean it will stay together. John: What do you think the short-term outlook is? What are making things worse?

Are they getting better or are they staying the same in Haiti right now? Gary: Well, it depends who you talk to. Some of my sources at the UN have told me that they have been controlling the gangs. One of the things they are doing is taking their ammunition. But, you know, the Haitian people in Haiti, the clip that you played is very clear what they want. They want help. And that help cannot be provided through diplomacy because these gangs are abusing them, raping them and killing them. And it's not even a war because the other side is dead;

The other side has no weapons to fight the gangs. The police are inept, you said, they are outgunned and they are outgunned because the gang members, the gang leaders have better weapons than the police. John: At the risk of sounding flippant, I want to ask you about the World Cup. The Haiti women's soccer team is in the World Cup for the first time and is doing better than expected. Is anyone paying attention to that? Gary: Well, absolutely. I mean, thank you for that question, because it really has been a breath of fresh air for Haiti. Haitians around the world.

These women, ladies, have made us very proud. And I think it's also a metaphor for Haiti and what Haitians can do if we come together and decide what we want to do, because the government and the Haitian federation have invested millions in this team to make sure it's working, they are where they are. . And by the way, John, they are the youngest team in the competition, very inexperienced to a certain extent, but they are playing well despite having lost two games. It's been close. We have been competitive. And so, yes, this is something that is a welcome distraction, if you will.

And it is not in vain because, as you know, sport is really something that brings joy to the world. And now everyone is fascinated with the World Cup. Women are great. All the other teams are doing well and I am enjoying it a lot. Despite the time difference, it's great. John: Gary Pierre Pierre, founder and editor of Haitian Times, thank you very much. Gary: Thanks, John. ♪♪