Women are left vulnerable as Haiti’s spiralling gang violence and healthcare crisis intensifies

Haiti’s economic crisis, growing lawlessness, and escalating gang violence are causing its health system to collapse just as women need it most, say non-governmental medical organisations operating in the country.Gang warfare has intensified in the past month as armed groups vying for control of Port-au-Prince have become more ruthless and less discriminate in their efforts to dominate the capital. In July some of the estimated 150-200 gangs took control of the presidential palace and fought street battles streets away from the palace and Haiti’s largest penitentiary, where it was feared that there would be a mass prison break.123Haitian civilians, still reeling from a deadly earthquake a year ago, are caught in the crossfire of the spiralling violence. In the 10 days from 8 to 17 July, says the UN, 209 people were killed in Port-au-Prince alone. At least 17 000 people in the capital have been displaced from their homes,…
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