Haiti declares state of emergency amid violent clashes and prison breaks

Curfew Exceptions: Certain groups are exempt from the curfew. These include law enforcement, firefighters, ambulance drivers, health personnel, and duly identified journalists. (AP Photo)

Weekend Violence: The emergency decree follows a dramatic escalation in violence over the weekend. This violence has paralyzed parts of the capital, damaged communications, and led to two prison breaks. (Reuters photo)

Telecoms Affected: The chairman of Digicel, a major telecoms provider to the Caribbean country, said that lines had been affected. This was due to days of street violence in parts of the capital. (Reuters photo)

Connection Restored: Field teams managed to fully restore the connection on Sunday afternoon. This was thanks to the brave technicians who worked tirelessly in very precarious conditions. (AP Photo)

Gang Leader’s Call: Heavy gunfire has caused panic in recent days. This followed calls by gang leader Jimmy Cherizier, a former police officer, for criminal groups to unite and overthrow Prime Minister Ariel Henry. (AP Photo)

Prison Attack: Armed groups attacked the country’s largest prison on Saturday night. This was despite calls for help from Haitian police forces. On Sunday, there were no signs of police officers and the main prison doors remained open. (Reuters photo)

Inmates on the Run: It was unclear how many inmates were on the run. The penitentiary, built to hold 700 prisoners, held 3,687 as of February last year. Sources close to the institution said it was likely an “overwhelming” majority. (AP Photo)

Fearful Inmates: One voluntary prison worker said that 99 prisoners had opted to remain in their cells. This was for fear of being killed in the crossfire. These included several retired Colombian soldiers jailed for their alleged involvement in the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. (AP Photo)

Casualties Reported: The bodies of three inmates who had attempted to flee lay dead in the courtyard of the jail complex on Sunday. (AP Photo)

Warning Issued: Cherizier warned locals to keep children from going to school to avoid collateral damages. This was as violence surged in the prime minister’s absence. (AP Photo)

Displacement Crisis: Nearly 15,000 people have been forced to leave their homes in recent days. Ten sites hosting internally displaced people were emptied over the weekend, according to the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM). (AP Photo)

PM’s Pledge: Prime Minister Henry, who came to power in 2021 after the assassination of the country’s last president, Moïse, had previously pledged to step down by early February. He later said security must first be re-established to ensure free and fair elections. (AP Photo)

Police Overwhelmed: Haiti’s National Police has roughly 9,000 officers to provide security for more than 11 million people. They are routinely overwhelmed and outgunned by gangs, which are estimated to control up to 80% of Port-au-Prince. (Reuters photo)