International News: Haiti airport shuts down after Gang Violence amid political turmoil

Published by BBNTEAM at November 11, 2024

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Posted: Monday, November 11, 2024. 4:25 pm CST.

By Zoila Palma Gonzalez: Today, Haiti’s main international airport was closed after gangs shot at a commercial flight landing in Port-au-Prince, injuring a flight attendant.

The Spirit Airlines flight, coming from Florida, was forced to divert to the Dominican Republic after the attack, which occurred just before landing, AP reports.

Other airlines, including JetBlue and American Airlines, suspended flights to Haiti due to the escalating violence.

The shooting is part of a broader surge in gang activity, with firefights erupting between gangs and police in Port-au-Prince.

Gangs also set fires in upscale neighborhoods, and schools closed amid the chaos.

The violence coincided with the swearing-in of Haiti’s new interim prime minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, who promised to restore peace and hold long-delayed elections.

The political instability deepened on Sunday when the transitional council ousted interim Prime Minister Garry Conille, replacing him with Fils-Aimé.

The council has struggled with infighting and corruption, failing to bring stability to a nation wracked by gang violence. The U.N. estimates that gangs control 85% of Port-au-Prince, and a lack of funding has hampered peacekeeping efforts.

Local peace advocates warn that the ongoing political crisis has allowed gangs to expand their control, deepening the suffering of Haiti’s citizens, many of whom face hunger and displacement.

The country has been in turmoil since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, with gangs exploiting the power vacuum.

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