Biden admin. officials testify they’re preparing for a massive surge of Haitian migrants after thousands of inmates escaped the country’s prisons
Haiti’s government declared a state of emergency on Sunday after thousands of inmates apparently escaped from its largest prison during a surge of gang violence that has upended the Caribbean nation for months.
The government cited the “deterioration of security,” notably in the capital Port-au-Prince, and “increasingly violent criminal acts perpetrated by armed gangs,” including kidnappings and killings of citizens, violence against women and children and looting, according to a statement from Finance Minister Patrick Boivert, who is serving as acting prime minister.
It also cited the attacks by armed groups on Saturday against the country’s two largest prisons, one in Port-au-Prince and another in Croix des Bouquets, which led to the escape of “dangerous prisoners” and caused deaths and injuries among police and prison staff.
A United Nations’ source said Sunday that around 3,500 prisoners are believed to have escaped Haiti’s National Penitentiary in Port-Au-Prince during the weekend.
There had been 3,687 prisoners at prison, according to the source.
The UN mission in Haiti tracks incarcerated populations and humanitarian conditions in prisons in the country.
Note: There were nearly 5,000 homicides counted in Haiti last year, more than double than in 2022, a United Nations report said Tuesday, as the country endures rampant gang violence amid the near-collapse of its political institutions.
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