The UN calls for “calm and moderation” in the face of protests in Haiti

The Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, launched a call for calm in Haiti on Friday after the protests that have been taking place since the end of August and that have led to violent acts throughout the country.

“The secretary general is particularly concerned about the safety of all Haitians, including the most vulnerable, and calls for calm and maximum restraint,” says a statement issued by the UN press office.

Guterres urges all parties involved in the situation “to take immediate steps to de-escalate the situation, prevent violence, and allow the Haitian National Police to fulfill its role of protecting the population.”

At the end of August, protests exploded in the capital of the Caribbean country, Port-au-Prince, as well as in Cap-Haïtien, Petit-Goave and Jacmel, cities in which protesters wore T-shirts with the word “independence,” reported Reutersall as a result of the anniversary of the anti-slavery uprising of 1791 that gave rise to its liberation as a colony of France in 1804.

Now the protests are also directed against the violence of the gangs that practically maintain control of several cities, according to reports.

Added to the high costs of transport and many basic foodstuffs is the government’s announcement of a rise in fuel prices, in a context of a growing shortage of gasoline and diesel that could force some businesses to close.

This week, residents of the capital took refuge in their homes to the sound of gunfire, while burning tires could be seen in the streets and protesters threw stones in response to crime.

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