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General Security Situation in Haiti January 13, 2010
Our latest information;
Damage is reported to be most severe in Port-au-Prince. Several buildings, including the HQ of the UN peacekeeping mission (previously the Christopher Hotel), located on the road from the city to the suburb of Petionville, have been destroyed. Several bodies were pulled from the wreckage of the UN HQ and over 100 UN staff members are still missing. Earlier, UN Sec.Gen Ban Ki-moon said the missing included the chief of the UN mission in Haiti, Hedi Annabi, and his deputy, but he could not confirm reports that they had died.
The Haitian National Red Cross Society building en Deprez and Bicenter, same location where the Federation offices are located has been affected. The ICRC buildings in Delmas and the French Red Cross and Canadian Red Cross are reported as still standing.
We are still waiting for an update from the Haitian RC on the number of killed and injured staff members and volunteers. So far one staff member reported killed. All IFRC staff are reported safe.
Other UN installations, including the HQ of the UNDP, a base near Toussaint Louverture International Airport (PAP) and a hospital, were also damaged. Other key buildings that have been damaged include the presidential palace on Champs de Mars square, the parliament and other government buildings, the office of the World Bank and Port-au-Prince Cathedral.
The Prince, Castel Haiti and Montana hotels are reported to have been destroyed; French secretary of state for co-operation Alain Joyandet said that there were 300 people, including tourists and French nationals inside the hotel, though only 100 had been accounted for. A majority of houses located on Delmas Road, a key thoroughfare in Port-au-Prince, and in the Carrefour residential area have been damaged. In addition, reports suggest that buildings near the US embassy, located on 15 October boulevard in the capital's Tabarre municipality, were badly affected; however, the US embassy is undamaged.
The earthquake has disrupted essential services, including electricity and water supply, as well as some internet and mobile networks in the capital. However, reports indicate that one of the major networks, Digicel, has resumed its services.
Some reports have indicated that looting occurred overnight at several locations in the capital, including at a supermarket that was partially destroyed in the earthquake.¨
IFRC personnel report that until now, the security situation is quiet. IFRC personnel have encountered people with injuries and need help for evacuation and have not identified any aggression amongst the affected towards the RC/RC.
Thousands are feared dead, and many people are feared to be trapped under fallen structures. Details are still emerging about the extent of damage in other parts of the country. The southern city of Jacmel, the capital of Sud-Est department, is reported to have been affected. Meanwhile, debris has cut off access to several coastal communities; Thomassin, located near the capital, is thought to have been severely affected - the only road link between the two locations is damaged and all telecommunications links are down.
Comments
ü Significant travel disruption is likely in areas affected by the earthquake, especially where buildings have collapsed and debris may be blocking roads.
ü Disruption to essential services, including telecommunications, power and water supply, should be expected to continue in the coming days as the authorities attempt to restore services and the emergency services carry out rescue operations.
ü Aftershocks could also pose an additional threat to property and life, due to falling debris, both inside buildings and on the streets.
ü The security situation has the potential to deteriorate quickly, particularly considering the reports of looting. Minustah will be stretched to maintain law and order, especially given the damage to UN facilities and the fact that most UN forces will be tasked to help with relief efforts.
Primary Risks / Threats to RC/RC Personnel
· Aftershocks and Mudslides
· Burglary/Muggings
· Car-Jacking
· Road Banditry
· Traffic accidents - Road conditions
· Looting of relief supplies/distribution points
· Assault by desperate beneficiaries
· Violent demonstrations and riots
· Kidnapping
Aftershocks and Mudslides
In past disasters most people have died as a result of flooding and mudslides. The threat to RC/RC personnel will be those that directly result from the earthquake- unstable nature of buildings, potential for aftershocks and those resulting from damage to infrastructure.
Many buildings weakened by the earthquake will remain unstable and there is the residual risk of collapse. This exacerbated by the potential for continued aftershocks which could cause further collapse of buildings. There is likely to be considerable damage to infrastructure with basic infrastructure provisions of water, sewage and communications being affected and posing potential health risks.
RC/RC Personnel in the affected region should avoid low-lying and coastal areas until the situation becomes clear. Be aware that aftershocks may trigger landslides and prompt further tsunami warnings and alerts. Although tsunami warnings are routinely issued and frequently retracted, take all warnings seriously.
Crime - Petty crime remains a threat and there is the potential for this to increase as a result of the disaster. The threat of violent attacks remains and RC/RC Personnel should remain aware of their surroundings, lock their doors at night and not leave belongings unattended.
Unrest - Be aware that widespread unrest can be triggered with little or no notice. It is possible that the impact of the earthquake and the failure of the local authorities to cope could trigger bouts of unrest. Avoid all protests as they often descend into violence - do not stop to watch or photograph them.
Driving - Be aware that routes may be blocked by debris or subject to closure by the authorities with no notice. Drivers should be aware that vehicle safety regulations are rarely enforced and traffic violations occur routinely. Drivers should be especially alert at night to the hazard of animals. The poor road condition merged with rain will also create many problems as trucks and cars get stuck in mud.
Health - Tap water may be unsafe - select bottled water or carbonated drinks. Avoid food from street vendors and markets. Medical facilities are currently stretched as a result of the disaster.
Past security problems in Haiti IFRC Operations
· Discipline amongst beneficiaries at distributions point has been a major concern.
· Security at warehouses has been an issue.
· Criminal gangs fighting for control over Food and NFI during or after distributions - intimidating RC/RC Personnel and beneficiaries.
· Road transports were numerous times attacked by road bandits in road blocks or false check points.
General Security brief (info prior to the January 12 EQ)
The security environment in Haiti has made a positive progress over the past year due to the constant efforts of the Haitian police along with the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti, MINUSTAH. With the arrests and deaths of major gang leaders there has been a considerable reduction in gang violence in the well entrenched criminal areas including Cite-Soleil and Bel Air in Port-au-Prince and in northern city of Gonaives.
Despite this the security situation in Haiti still remains fluid, and unpredictable. Lately the poor economic situation has caused a widespread increase in criminal activity. The country continues to experience high levels of crime and violence. Foreigners are frequently victims of carjacking, armed robbery, kidnapping and other forms of violent crime. On top of this There is increasing anti-foreign sentiment in Haiti, and foreign embassies have been attacked by mobs.
Roadblocks manned by armed thugs are common and, at times, have blocked access to and from the Port-au-Prince airport. There have been reports of indiscriminate gunfire at pedestrians.
The high number of the extreme poor quarters' produces criminal elements which target the small number of, as regarded by the overwhelming majority, very rich people mainly concentrated in Petion Ville. This town is home to the small rich elite of Haiti as well as the international community of diplomats, businessmen and aid workers. This of course attracts criminal elements. Due to this the kidnapping business as well as small crime are on the rising in the capital area, targeting not only Haitian nationals but more and more expatriates.
The threshold for violence is quite low, as actors of small crime still seem to be quite inexperienced and do not have a real plan but act just on the occasion. However more and more organized crimes, especially in the kidnapping industry, can be noted in the capital. Organized groups target housing areas, eliminating staff and wait for the proprietor or lodger to take them hostage. New trends include causing minor traffic accidents to get people out of the cars to render help and then kidnapping them.
In case of general unrest Petion Ville is likely to be targeted by the disaffected and eventually politically manipulated volatile crowd, which march up different roads from PaP downtown (Route de Delmas, Avenue John Brown/Pan-Americaine, etc.).
GonaÏves
A major point of concern is the city of GonaÏves. The main road between PaP and the North-West leads through the city situated on the coastline at the Golfe de la Gonáve. When unrest is spreading, this city is among the first hot spots of the country because there is no sign of any development in and around GonaÏves.
Some Checkpoints of MINUSTAH forces are still active south of GonaÏves, while presence of Haitian police seems to be quite low.
The situation in Ouanaminthe in the North East is currently calm. The small city can be seen in stark contrast to its Dominican brother town of Dabajón. Dominican business relies on the need of Haitian import demands for goods and food transported via Dabajón. In case of civil unrest the small border crossing checkpoint will be closed by the one side or the other. This will have a major impact on the security situation in the whole North of Haiti, as most of the goods (food) are imported via Dabajón/Ouanaminthe. Closure of the border will lead to lack of stocks in Northern Haiti within a few days.
Violent Crime
The incidents of kidnapping have almost halved as compared to the previous year. Despite an overall improvement in the security situation, high incidents of murder, assault, carjacking, armed robbery, petty theft, home invasion and burglary continue to dominate certain areas in Port-au-Prince and the neighbouring cities like Croix-de-Bouquet, Freres, Petionville, Puits blain and Martissant as well as the northern city of Cap-Haitien.
While most kidnap victims belong to local Haitian middle class families and businesspersons, foreigners also face a considerable risk of being abducted, largely because they are perceived to be wealthy. Many of the reported kidnappings have involved the police, their impersonators, bank tellers, gang members and common criminals. Even simple opportunistic thefts have led to violence, and foreigners have been victimized.
Criminal perpetrators often operate in groups of two to four individuals, and are disposed occasionally to be confrontational and gratuitously violent. Criminals sometimes will seriously injure or kill those who resist their attempts to commit crime. In robberies or home invasions, it is not uncommon for the assailants to beat or shoot the victim in order to limit the victim's ability to resist.
Home invasions also remain a problem. Most of these criminal acts continue to be perpetrated by organized (or quasi-organized) armed criminal gangs.
Robbery related shootings have increased during the past years, including a sharp increase in incidents in the more affluent Port-au-Prince neighbourhood of Petion-ville. This increase, as with other types of crime, is likely due to the scattering of gangsters displaced by the UN takeover over Cite Soleil. Robberies resulting in shootings have almost all occurred when the victim resisted the robber(s).
Robberies
Armed and/or strong-arm robberies against motorists and pedestrians remains a concern throughout Haiti, however reports of simple robberies against foreigners over the past year remain relatively low.
Residential Theft
Residential theft (burglaries/ home invasions) trends over the past year have suggested a departure from traditional criminal burglary and a rise in robbery/kidnapping. In Port-au-Prince particularly, almost all home invasions were conducted for the dual purpose of kidnapping and robbery, where previously the focus was principally on robbery. In other regions of Haiti, simple home burglaries and thefts remain a regular occurrence.
In many cases, evidence suggested that the houses targeted were selected for a lack of security, and that the targets were observed in advance of the invasion. In some instances, it is believed the domestic staff was paid to aid in the facilitation of the invasions. In almost all cases, the kidnap victims were taken away in the family car.
Social Unrest
Haiti has a long history of civil unrest. Economic hardship and widespread discontent with the continued insecurity have led to a resurfacing of nationalist and anti-globalisation sentiments. Several anti-government demonstrations have been launched by student groups, religious organisations and civic groups. There is a high possibility of politically motivated unrest during elections. While five people were killed in separate incidents of violence during municipal and parliamentary elections in 2006, at least three people were killed during the June 2009 Senate elections. RC/RC personnel should strictly avoid all demonstrations as they can turn violent with little warning. In most cases, assistance from the authorities cannot be relied upon.
Vehicle Theft
Vehicle thefts in Haiti remain a serious problem in many areas, however they continue to be more commonly committed in conjunction with kidnappings/ car-jackings.
Driving and Travel
Roads around Cite Soleil, primarily Route National #1 and #9 are safer, but should still be considered dangerous areas and travel should be avoided. Care should also be used when travelling around Carrefour, particularly along Route National #2 through Martissant, as well as travel in the vicinity of Cite Militaire, and along La Saline Boulevard (Port Road) due to continuing concerns of criminal activity and proximity to known gang areas.
Incidents of armed car-jackings and kidnappings along Route de Frere have increased dramatically and drivers are cautioned to avoid stopping along any portion of the road. It is important to note that general vigilance should be used at all times on all roads in Haiti, as there is no area that should be considered immune to crime.
Road conditions inside and outside the major cities are extremely poor. Very few roads in Haiti are paved and the ones that are paved, generally are in a state of disrepair. A majority of the roads outside of the main cities are either topped with gravel or are poorly maintained dirt roads.
Traffic rules and courtesies are not observed or enforced in Haiti, and traffic within Port-au-Prince is often gridlocked.
In rural or mountainous areas, drivers should expect a lack of adequate guard rails, few traffic signs or road markings and little to no road lighting. Drivers should use caution when driving around bends, as it is common for locals coming in the other direction to pass slower vehicles or otherwise drive in the middle of the road, even around blind turns.
Road travelling outside of Port-au-Prince or any town should be in day time ONLY, and with two or more vehicles in a convoy due to both the security situation and road conditions. While car-jackings, assaults and armed robberies are not uncommon in many urban areas, they are less common in the countryside.
During rainy weather roadways can become impassable quickly, thus creating a hazardous condition. The mountainous areas pose even greater challenges to road travel due to weather conditions frequently involving rain and foggy conditions. The narrow, unpaved roads are also blocked by muddy surface conditions, causing unsafe driving conditions.
Public Transportation
The local transport known as "tap taps" are the primary form of public transportation for most Haitian. The use of these public tap taps by RC/RC personnel should be considered dangerous as robberies and accidents are common.
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