Prisoners escape due to hunger in Haiti, 12 people die

This is the third such incident in recent months, amid a humanitarian crisis caused by escalating gang violence in Haiti.

Haitian police patrol near Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on August 12. Photo: AFP/Clarens Siffroy

Walter Montas, a local government official, said the incident occurred due to a spontaneous protest because the prisoners had no food and were facing poor health conditions.

Prosecutor Venson Francois said the situation at the prison was under control, but locals needed to remain vigilant. "The consequences were catastrophic. The entire police dormitory and archives were burned down," he said.

Videos on social media showed people climbing over the wall and smoke billowing from the walls, which were surrounded by barbed wire, accompanied by a loud bang and fire.

National police have not yet responded to the incident in Saint-Marc. According to the United Nations, more than 7,500 people were being held in Haiti at the end of June, down from nearly 12,000 due to a major jailbreak in March.

Conflict in the country has forced nearly 600,000 people to flee their homes and left about 5 million people in dire straits.

Cao Phong (according to Reuters, AFP)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/haiti-cac-tu-nhan-vuot-nguc-vi-doi-12-nguoi-thiet-mang-post308102.html