Haiti Earthquake: Violence and looting

United Nations, New York, 19 January 2010 - In the aftermath of the 7.0 magnitude quake, which struck Haiti on 12 January and is believed to have impacted one third of its 9-million strong population, hunger, desperation and frustration have fueled episodes of violence and looting throughout the badly damaged capital of Port-au-Prince.

While most of the incidents until now have involved pushing, shoving and occasional scuffles at food distribution points, reports of criminality have been on the rise.

Young people climbed into demolished stores and warehouses - sometimes risking their lives entering dangerously unsafe buildings to take whatever merchandise they could carry.

Police chased looters with sticks and plastic batons in an increasingly losing battle to dissuade lawlessness.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has insisted that the situation remains "tense but calm", and that these incidents were sporadic and isolated. About 3,000 troops from the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) are providing help, including escort for humanitarian distributions and convoys.

The Security Council today approved sending 3,500 more police and soldiers to ramp up security and crack down on the violence.


Source: UNIFEED, MINUSTAH

News story:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/infocusRel.asp?infocusID=91&Body=Haiti&Body1

Category:

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[MistaChubbz1]

sad...the government is not helping them that's whats going to happen. then they are beaten because their trying to stay alive! SHAME