Heavily armed gangs seek to take control of Haiti's main airport
Mar 05, 2024
Port-au-Prince [Haiti], March 5: Port-au-Prince 's Toussaint Louverture International Airport was closed at the time of the attack. There were no planes in service and the terminals were empty of passengers.
This is considered the largest attack to occur at this airport in its opening history.
The attack occurred hours after Haitian authorities issued a nighttime curfew, following a wave of violence stemming from heavily armed gang members attacking the country's two largest prisons in the country. capital Port-au-Prince, causing thousands of prisoners to escape prison over the weekend.
According to AFP on March 5, most of the Haitian capital fell into a state of "paralysis" on March 4. People only leave home to buy necessities.
Schools and banks were closed, and people sought shelter inside classrooms, sports stadiums , gyms and public buildings.
"This morning (March 4), the city was paralyzed," AFP quoted Ms. Carlotta Pianigiani, coordinator of the non-profit health organization Alima in Port-au-Prince.
"Public transportation is frozen, private vehicles rarely appear on the streets, schools are no longer open. Some roads are blocked," she said.
As the latest crisis hit the Caribbean nation, Prime Minister Ariel Henry remained abroad following a trip to Kenya.
Mr. Henry is trying to promote the implementation of a multinational police mission supported by the United Nations in the country, with the goal of bringing stability to Haiti.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper