A Haitian clothing manufacturer has switched from making pants for export to face masks and medical gear for local use in order to help the country battle the coronavirus pandemic.

Haitian clothing maker churns out face masks full time to battle coronavirus

Fifteen children died in a fire that swept overnight through an orphanage in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/haiti-opposition-condemns-countrys-slide-into-rule-by-decree-274329">Haiti </a>run by a US&nbsp;religious group, authorities said on Friday, triggering renewed controversy over the hundreds of unlicensed orphanages in the poorest nation in the Americas.

Two children were burned to death and 13 died due to smoke inhalation in the blaze that ravaged the Pennsylvania-based Church of Bible Understanding's orphanage in Kenscoff, just south of the capital.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/47-children-evacuated-from-aleppo-orphanage-some-in-critical-shape-un-10324/amp">47 children evacuated from Aleppo orphanage, some in critical shape: UN</a>

The cause of the blaze was not clear. One of the children at the orphanage told Reuters they had been using candles because the power in the block was out and a generator was not working.

Arielle Jeanty Villedrouin, director of the Institute for Social Welfare, said the religious group did not have a license to operate the institution, which housed around 60 children.

"Orphanages" mostly house not just orphans but children whose parents feel they cannot afford to look after them proliferated after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti that killed tens of thousands.

Yet just 35 of 754 such institutions are officially authorized, with another 100 in the process of getting a license. The government has closed around 160 institutions over the last five years, Villedrouin said, and has barred more from opening.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/haiti-opposition-condemns-countrys-slide-into-rule-by-decree-274329">Haiti opposition condemns country's slide into rule by decree</a>

"We are going to place them in a transit center while we do research on their family and see if we can reunite them with their parents," she told Reuters.

Four in five of the around 30,000 children in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/haiti-opposition-condemns-countrys-slide-into-rule-by-decree-274329">Haiti's </a>orphanages have living parents, according to the government.

A woman who answered the Church of Bible Understanding's telephone number in Port-au-Prince, asked for comment, said: "We will make it known when it is appropriate."

There was no response to a voicemail seeking comment at the number listed for the Orphanage of the Church of Bible Understanding at its office in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

The group says on its website it opened its first orphanage in Haiti nearly 40 years ago, with a primary goal "to spread the Gospel to any and all who will receive it."

"I call on the relevant authorities to take urgent measures to decipher the cause of this drama," President Jovenel Moise wrote in a tweet, expressing his "profound sadness."

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Je suis profondément ému par la mort d’une dizaine d’enfants, suite à l’incendie déclaré hier soir dans les locaux de l’orphelinat Compréhension de la Bible, situé à Fermathe. J’enjoins les autorités compétentes à adopter des mesures urgentes pour établir les causes de ce drame.
— Président Jovenel Moïse (@moisejovenel) <a href="https://twitter.com/moisejovenel/status/1228413637733253120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Nearly 60 percent&nbsp;of Haiti's 11.2 million inhabitants survive on less than $2.40 a day, according to the World Bank.

Poverty, disability and a lack of access to basic healthcare, education and social services mean many Haitian parents send their children to orphanages or wealthier relatives or acquaintances. Those taken in by relatives are often used as servants or isolated from children in the household and seldom sent to school, critics say.

Children living in hundreds of orphanages suffer sexual and physical abuse and some are trafficked into orphanages for profit to attract donations, the London-based charity Lumos wrote in a report three years ago.

Donors, mostly from the United States and faith-based organizations, give $70 million a year to one-third of Haiti’s orphanages, it said.

Fifteen children died in a fire that swept overnight through an orphanage in Haiti run by a US religious group, authorities said on Friday, triggering renewed controversy over the hundreds of unlicensed orphanages in the poorest nation in the Americas.

Fifteen children died in a fire that swept overnight through an orphanage in Haiti run by a US religious group, authorities said on Friday, triggering renewed controversy over the hundreds of unlicensed orphanages in the poorest nation in the Americas. Two children were burned to death and 13 died due to smoke inhalation in the blaze that ravaged the Pennsylvania-based Church of Bible Understanding's orphanage in Kenscoff, just south of the capital. Also read: 47 children evacuated from Aleppo orphanage, some in critical shape: UN The cause of the blaze was not clear. One of the children at the orphanage told Reuters they had been using candles because the power in the block was out and a generator was not working. Arielle Jeanty Villedrouin, director of the Institute for Social Welfare, said the religious group did not have a license to operate the institution, which housed around 60 children. "Orphanages" mostly house not just orphans but children whose parents feel they cannot afford to look after them proliferated after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti that killed tens of thousands. Yet just 35 of 754 such institutions are officially authorized, with another 100 in the process of getting a license. The government has closed around 160 institutions over the last five years, Villedrouin said, and has barred more from opening. Also read: Haiti opposition condemns country's slide into rule by decree "We are going to place them in a transit center while we do research on their family and see if we can reunite them with their parents," she told Reuters. Four in five of the around 30,000 children in Haiti's orphanages have living parents, according to the government. A woman who answered the Church of Bible Understanding's telephone number in Port-au-Prince, asked for comment, said: "We will make it known when it is appropriate." There was no response to a voicemail seeking comment at the number listed for the Orphanage of the Church of Bible Understanding at its office in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The group says on its website it opened its first orphanage in Haiti nearly 40 years ago, with a primary goal "to spread the Gospel to any and all who will receive it." "I call on the relevant authorities to take urgent measures to decipher the cause of this drama," President Jovenel Moise wrote in a tweet, expressing his "profound sadness." Je suis profondément ému par la mort d’une dizaine d’enfants, suite à l’incendie déclaré hier soir dans les locaux de l’orphelinat Compréhension de la Bible, situé à Fermathe. J’enjoins les autorités compétentes à adopter des mesures urgentes pour établir les causes de ce drame. — Président Jovenel Moïse (@moisejovenel) February 14, 2020 × Nearly 60 percent of Haiti's 11.2 million inhabitants survive on less than $2.40 a day, according to the World Bank. Poverty, disability and a lack of access to basic healthcare, education and social services mean many Haitian parents send their children to orphanages or wealthier relatives or acquaintances. Those taken in by relatives are often used as servants or isolated from children in the household and seldom sent to school, critics say. Children living in hundreds of orphanages suffer sexual and physical abuse and some are trafficked into orphanages for profit to attract donations, the London-based charity Lumos wrote in a report three years ago. Donors, mostly from the United States and faith-based organizations, give $70 million a year to one-third of Haiti’s orphanages, it said.

Haiti orphanage fire kills 15, renews debate over unlicensed orphanages

Haitian&nbsp;opposition&nbsp;politicians on Tuesday condemned the&nbsp;country's&nbsp;slide&nbsp;into&nbsp;rule&nbsp;by&nbsp;decree&nbsp;under President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-protest-against-haitis-president-moise-257138">Jovenel Moise</a> after the failure to renew parliament, creating a political vacuum.

In the early hours of Monday, the president said the mandates of lower house deputies and most senators formally expired because no successors were elected in October after the troubled country failed to hold elections.

Moise argues the situation could break the Caribbean nation's political deadlock after weeks of turmoil, but his critics fear it will undermine a fragile democracy three decades since the end of the Duvalier family dictatorship.

Andre Michel, a politician with the&nbsp;opposition&nbsp;Democratic and Popular Sector, said the country was entering a crisis that would be worse than in 2019 when the impoverished country was racked by violent protests against the government.

"Today we see that Jovenel Moise is devoid of any popular legitimacy," Michel told a news conference.

Moise blamed parliament for having failed to approve the electoral law required to hold last year's elections while his opponents accused him of trying to take advantage of the law.

Haiti&nbsp;has had 15 presidents in the past 33 years.

Jean Tholbert Alexis, a former speaker of the Lower House of Congress, said parliament had been undermined.

"It's not good for the&nbsp;rule&nbsp;of law in a country to have all power in the hands of a single office," he said on Twitter.

Under Moise's predecessor, Michel Martelly, parliament was dissolved in January 2015 when negotiations for a deal that would have extended lawmakers' mandates failed.

Martelly&nbsp;ruled by&nbsp;decree&nbsp;until the end of his term.

Haiti&nbsp;is the poorest country in the Americas and is still reeling from several natural disasters, including <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hurricane-matthew-kills-more-than-500-in-haiti-350000-people-in-need-of-relief-7182">Hurricane Matthew</a> in 2016 and a devastating earthquake in 2010.

Haitian opposition politicians on Tuesday condemned the country's slide into rule by decree under President Jovenel Moise after the failure to renew parliament, creating a political vacuum.

Haitian opposition politicians on Tuesday condemned the country's slide into rule by decree under President Jovenel Moise after the failure to renew parliament, creating a political vacuum. In the early hours of Monday, the president said the mandates of lower house deputies and most senators formally expired because no successors were elected in October after the troubled country failed to hold elections. Moise argues the situation could break the Caribbean nation's political deadlock after weeks of turmoil, but his critics fear it will undermine a fragile democracy three decades since the end of the Duvalier family dictatorship. Andre Michel, a politician with the opposition Democratic and Popular Sector, said the country was entering a crisis that would be worse than in 2019 when the impoverished country was racked by violent protests against the government. "Today we see that Jovenel Moise is devoid of any popular legitimacy," Michel told a news conference. Moise blamed parliament for having failed to approve the electoral law required to hold last year's elections while his opponents accused him of trying to take advantage of the law. Haiti has had 15 presidents in the past 33 years. Jean Tholbert Alexis, a former speaker of the Lower House of Congress, said parliament had been undermined. "It's not good for the rule of law in a country to have all power in the hands of a single office," he said on Twitter. Under Moise's predecessor, Michel Martelly, parliament was dissolved in January 2015 when negotiations for a deal that would have extended lawmakers' mandates failed. Martelly ruled by decree until the end of his term. Haiti is the poorest country in the Americas and is still reeling from several natural disasters, including Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and a devastating earthquake in 2010.

Haiti opposition condemns country's slide into rule by decree

Ten&nbsp;years&nbsp;and billions of dollars of aid later,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-42-killed-in-haiti-protest-violence-united-nations-259338">Haiti</a>&nbsp;is still rebuilding itself from one of the deadliest earthquakes in history and the devastation it caused.

Recovery has been&nbsp;slow&nbsp;and&nbsp;uneven.

The 7.0 magnitude&nbsp;quake&nbsp;on January&nbsp;12, 2010, killed tens of thousands of people and left much more homeless, leveling many of the most recognizable buildings in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-protest-against-haitis-president-moise-257138">Port-au-Prince</a>.

"Haiti&nbsp;has neither a mother nor a father,"&nbsp;Haitian Jean Brune Wilga said near the remains of the National Palace, the president's former residence. "Because of 10&nbsp;years&nbsp;after&nbsp;the earthquake, the palace should not still be in ruins."

It and other iconic buildings, including the Notre Dame l'Assomption cathedral, have not been rebuilt. Tens of thousands of people still live in provisional housing.

Estimates of the number of dead vary widely, from below&nbsp;100,000 to as high as 316,000, the official government figure.

Worshippers attend what Father Guy Chrispin described as a "temporary cathedral", a steel-framed edifice that seats 1,500 people in open-air built by the ruins of the original church.

<img alt="Haiti" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="34940fe6-48b3-4616-b4ed-71762d10bea3" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2851%29.jpg" />

"We say temporary because we're planning to rebuild the other one, but that requires a lot of money," Chrispin said.&nbsp;After&nbsp;the&nbsp;quake, more than 12,000 aid groups launched one of the largest ever humanitarian and reconstruction operations.

Since then, their efforts have come under intense criticism. UN&nbsp;peacekeepers also accidentally started a cholera epidemic that killed 9,300 people and sickened another 800,000. Other aid workers stand accused of abusing women and children.

In a country where nearly 60 per cent of the population survives on less than $2.40 a day, reconstruction of the Hospital of the State University of&nbsp;Haiti, the capital's main public hospital, is one of the more advanced projects.

Building materials lay stacked outside the building next to the stretched but still functioning General Hospital.

Jean Rodney, whose son was being treated in the facility, said he appreciated efforts by medical staff working with such limited resources. Like most&nbsp;Haitians, he had high hopes for the new medical center.

"We all need it - it's been too long for us," Rodney said. "It should have been finished a long time ago. But we know that this is because of the country's political problems."

Haitian President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/haiti-president-moise-breaks-silence-after-week-of-violent-unrest-197517">Jovenel Moise</a> has called on international support to tackle an ongoing humanitarian crisis. More than one-in-three&nbsp;Haitians, nearly 3.7 million people, need urgent assistance to meet their daily food requirements.

Ten years and billions of dollars of aid later, Haiti is still rebuilding itself from one of the deadliest earthquakes in history and the devastation it caused. Recovery has been slow and uneven.

Ten years and billions of dollars of aid later, Haiti is still rebuilding itself from one of the deadliest earthquakes in history and the devastation it caused. Recovery has been slow and uneven. The 7.0 magnitude quake on January 12, 2010, killed tens of thousands of people and left much more homeless, leveling many of the most recognizable buildings in Port-au-Prince. "Haiti has neither a mother nor a father," Haitian Jean Brune Wilga said near the remains of the National Palace, the president's former residence. "Because of 10 years after the earthquake, the palace should not still be in ruins." It and other iconic buildings, including the Notre Dame l'Assomption cathedral, have not been rebuilt. Tens of thousands of people still live in provisional housing. Estimates of the number of dead vary widely, from below 100,000 to as high as 316,000, the official government figure. Worshippers attend what Father Guy Chrispin described as a "temporary cathedral", a steel-framed edifice that seats 1,500 people in open-air built by the ruins of the original church. "We say temporary because we're planning to rebuild the other one, but that requires a lot of money," Chrispin said. After the quake, more than 12,000 aid groups launched one of the largest ever humanitarian and reconstruction operations. Since then, their efforts have come under intense criticism. UN peacekeepers also accidentally started a cholera epidemic that killed 9,300 people and sickened another 800,000. Other aid workers stand accused of abusing women and children. In a country where nearly 60 per cent of the population survives on less than $2.40 a day, reconstruction of the Hospital of the State University of Haiti, the capital's main public hospital, is one of the more advanced projects. Building materials lay stacked outside the building next to the stretched but still functioning General Hospital. Jean Rodney, whose son was being treated in the facility, said he appreciated efforts by medical staff working with such limited resources. Like most Haitians, he had high hopes for the new medical center. "We all need it - it's been too long for us," Rodney said. "It should have been finished a long time ago. But we know that this is because of the country's political problems." Haitian President Jovenel Moise has called on international support to tackle an ongoing humanitarian crisis. More than one-in-three Haitians, nearly 3.7 million people, need urgent assistance to meet their daily food requirements.

Slow and uneven, Haiti rebuilds 10 years after devastating quake

Hundreds take to the streets of Port-Au-Prince.

Unceasing Protests in Haiti: Anti-Government Protests in Haiti Surges

Ecuador has said that it has denied self-styled godman Nithyananda's request for refuge and that currently, he has left the country "presumably" for Haiti.

The Ecuadorian embassy in Delhi, in a statement, said, "Ecuador denied the request for international personal protection (refuge) made by Mr Nithyananda".

The mission "categorically" denied reports that Nithyananda was given "asylum by Ecuador or has been helped by the government of Ecuador in purchasing any land or island in South America near or far from Ecuador".&nbsp;

Nithyananda, who hails from Tamil Nadu, is accused of rape, kidnapping and had left the country in mysterious circumstances. He claims to have formed a Hindu nation 'Kailaasa' on an island of Ecuador. 
&nbsp;

Ecuador has said that it has denied self-styled godman Nithyananda's request for refuge and that currently, he has left the country "presumably" for Haiti. The Ecuadorian embassy in Delhi, in a statement, said, "Ecuador denied the request for international personal protection (refuge) made by Mr Nithyananda".

Ecuador has said that it has denied self-styled godman Nithyananda's request for refuge and that currently, he has left the country "presumably" for Haiti. The Ecuadorian embassy in Delhi, in a statement, said, "Ecuador denied the request for international personal protection (refuge) made by Mr Nithyananda". The mission "categorically" denied reports that Nithyananda was given "asylum by Ecuador or has been helped by the government of Ecuador in purchasing any land or island in South America near or far from Ecuador". Nithyananda, who hails from Tamil Nadu, is accused of rape, kidnapping and had left the country in mysterious circumstances. He claims to have formed a Hindu nation 'Kailaasa' on an island of Ecuador.

Ecuador denies Nithyananda's request for refuge; says he may be heading to Haiti 

Haiti needs international support to tackle an unfolding humanitarian crisis, President Jovenel Moise said in an interview, two months into anti-government protests that have exacerbated food insecurity in the Americas' poorest nation.

Moise also told Reuters he was holding closed-door talks with civil society groups and the private sector, as well as radical and moderate members of the opposition in a bid to break political gridlock by creating a government of unity.

However the 51-year-old president - who faces widespread anger over galloping inflation, rampant insecurity and allegations of corruption - would not say with whom he was talking. Haiti's leading opposition parties have for months said the time for dialogue is over.

"We are in the midst of a humanitarian crisis," Moise said in the interview on Friday in the garden of his home in the hillside suburb of Petionville, overlooking Port-au-Prince and the Caribbean sea. "We need international support to get through this crisis."

More than one-in-three Haitians need urgent assistance to meet their daily food requirements, meaning nearly 3.7 million people, the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) said earlier this month.

But aid organizations are struggling to provide relief due to protester barricades blocking roads, as well as gang violence and other crime. The WFP has said it is ready to launch air and maritime transport operations but needs to raise $2.9 million to do so.

Moise said his acting government had written to the Trump administration requesting aid last month and the US&nbsp;Agency for International Development agreed to provide 2,000 tonnes of food aid to address urgent needs.

The opposition accuses the United States, which has frequently determined the fate of Haitian politics, of propping up Moise and ignoring the people.

The US&nbsp;government has urged all stakeholders to work toward an inclusive dialogue without pre-conditions.

Fuel shortages in August sparked protests that have morphed into a fierce campaign against Moise that has shuttered businesses and schools and galvanized the political opposition.

While turnout in what has become Haiti's longest wave of demonstrations for years has weakened somewhat over the last two weeks, the opposition is calling for a nationwide protest on Monday, a bank holiday that commemorates a major battle of Haiti's independence war.&nbsp;

Moise said he started meeting "lots of people" behind closed doors a week and a half ago, rather than continuing to meet in public.

Two of the most prominent opposition leaders, Andre Michel and Moise Jean Charles, as well as the spokesman of the Episcopal Conference Father Loudeger Mazile, told Reuters they were not participating in the conversations and did not know of any significant figure or group that was.

Democratic void

Haiti has not had a government since March as parliament is required to ratify the president's choice of the prime minister and the minority opposition has blocked such a vote from taking place.

The opposition accuses Moise's ruling alliance of seeking to replace the previous prime minister because he was too keen on investigating the embezzlement of Venezuelan aid funds that could have sullied its members, including the president himself. Moise denies any wrongdoing.

The lack of a government, in turn, is preventing Haiti from accessing hundreds of millions of dollars in international aid funds as well as loans from the World Bank, Inter-American Bank and others earmarked for it.

From next year, it will no longer have a parliament either. The mandates of deputies and most senators ends in January and Haiti failed to hold legislative elections in October as required by the constitution.

"We don't want to govern the country without democratic institutions," said Moise. "But unfortunately it looks like we are headed in that direction and that's why today we are working on finding a political accord."

He reiterated that he had no intention of resigning or holding early elections.

Instead, he said, he wanted to carry out reforms including changing the constitution to strengthen the president's powers so he is not held hostage by parliament.

The presidency is weak under Haiti's current constitution as it was written in the wake of the dynastic dictatorships of Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier and his son Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier.

On the economic front, Moise said he hopes to implement stronger mechanisms to avoid tax and customs evasion to help reduce the ballooning budgetary deficit. This could in turn help bring down inflation of around 20 per cent.

On the investigation into the alleged embezzlement of Venezuelan aid funds, the president said his acting government was pressing for an update.

Moise's opponents, who say he disappeared from public sight at the start of the current crisis, criticize it as too little too late, nearly three years into his five-year mandate.

Haiti needs international support to tackle an unfolding humanitarian crisis, President Jovenel Moise said in an interview, two months into anti-government protests that have exacerbated food insecurity in the Americas' poorest nation.

Haiti needs international support to tackle an unfolding humanitarian crisis, President Jovenel Moise said in an interview, two months into anti-government protests that have exacerbated food insecurity in the Americas' poorest nation. Moise also told Reuters he was holding closed-door talks with civil society groups and the private sector, as well as radical and moderate members of the opposition in a bid to break political gridlock by creating a government of unity. However the 51-year-old president - who faces widespread anger over galloping inflation, rampant insecurity and allegations of corruption - would not say with whom he was talking. Haiti's leading opposition parties have for months said the time for dialogue is over. "We are in the midst of a humanitarian crisis," Moise said in the interview on Friday in the garden of his home in the hillside suburb of Petionville, overlooking Port-au-Prince and the Caribbean sea. "We need international support to get through this crisis." More than one-in-three Haitians need urgent assistance to meet their daily food requirements, meaning nearly 3.7 million people, the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) said earlier this month. But aid organizations are struggling to provide relief due to protester barricades blocking roads, as well as gang violence and other crime. The WFP has said it is ready to launch air and maritime transport operations but needs to raise $2.9 million to do so. Moise said his acting government had written to the Trump administration requesting aid last month and the US Agency for International Development agreed to provide 2,000 tonnes of food aid to address urgent needs. The opposition accuses the United States, which has frequently determined the fate of Haitian politics, of propping up Moise and ignoring the people. The US government has urged all stakeholders to work toward an inclusive dialogue without pre-conditions. Fuel shortages in August sparked protests that have morphed into a fierce campaign against Moise that has shuttered businesses and schools and galvanized the political opposition. While turnout in what has become Haiti's longest wave of demonstrations for years has weakened somewhat over the last two weeks, the opposition is calling for a nationwide protest on Monday, a bank holiday that commemorates a major battle of Haiti's independence war. Moise said he started meeting "lots of people" behind closed doors a week and a half ago, rather than continuing to meet in public. Two of the most prominent opposition leaders, Andre Michel and Moise Jean Charles, as well as the spokesman of the Episcopal Conference Father Loudeger Mazile, told Reuters they were not participating in the conversations and did not know of any significant figure or group that was. Democratic void Haiti has not had a government since March as parliament is required to ratify the president's choice of the prime minister and the minority opposition has blocked such a vote from taking place. The opposition accuses Moise's ruling alliance of seeking to replace the previous prime minister because he was too keen on investigating the embezzlement of Venezuelan aid funds that could have sullied its members, including the president himself. Moise denies any wrongdoing. The lack of a government, in turn, is preventing Haiti from accessing hundreds of millions of dollars in international aid funds as well as loans from the World Bank, Inter-American Bank and others earmarked for it. From next year, it will no longer have a parliament either. The mandates of deputies and most senators ends in January and Haiti failed to hold legislative elections in October as required by the constitution. "We don't want to govern the country without democratic institutions," said Moise. "But unfortunately it looks like we are headed in that direction and that's why today we are working on finding a political accord." He reiterated that he had no intention of resigning or holding early elections. Instead, he said, he wanted to carry out reforms including changing the constitution to strengthen the president's powers so he is not held hostage by parliament. The presidency is weak under Haiti's current constitution as it was written in the wake of the dynastic dictatorships of Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier and his son Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier. On the economic front, Moise said he hopes to implement stronger mechanisms to avoid tax and customs evasion to help reduce the ballooning budgetary deficit. This could in turn help bring down inflation of around 20 per cent. On the investigation into the alleged embezzlement of Venezuelan aid funds, the president said his acting government was pressing for an update. Moise's opponents, who say he disappeared from public sight at the start of the current crisis, criticize it as too little too late, nearly three years into his five-year mandate.

Haiti's president calls for support as humanitarian crisis looms

Thousands of people demonstrated on Sunday in Port-au-Prince, demanding that Haiti's President Jovenel Moise step down.

"Jovenel is incapable and incompetent, he must pack his bags because Haiti must live," said one of the protesters, Jean Ronald.

"It is not normal to live in such an unequal country," Ronald added, standing in front of the float of "Prophet Mackenson," a popular and controversial Haitian religious leader.

Mackenson Dorilas, a self-proclaimed "prophet," was sanctioned by the Haitian Ministry of faiths at the end of 2018 after saying he could cure AIDS with a bed bug remedy.

The crowd of his faithful moved through streets of the capital, followed by large groups of demonstrators, praying and chanting slogans against the president.

After repeated demonstrations and barricades regularly mounted by opponents of the president across major roads, many schools have closed their doors for more than a month.

"I put on my uniform today, it is brand new, and the first chance I've had to put it on is in a demonstration," says Nelly Delamet, 19.

"Things have to change: Jovenel is not good."

Since coming to power in February 2017, Moise has had to face the anger of an opposition movement that refuses to recognize his victory in an election widely seen as dubious.

Anger mounted in late August due to a national fuel shortage, and protests turned violent.

Thousands of people demonstrated on Sunday in Port-au-Prince, demanding that Haiti's President Jovenel Moise step down. "Jovenel is incapable and incompetent, he must pack his bags because Haiti must live," said one of the protesters, Jean Ronald.

Thousands of people demonstrated on Sunday in Port-au-Prince, demanding that Haiti's President Jovenel Moise step down. "Jovenel is incapable and incompetent, he must pack his bags because Haiti must live," said one of the protesters, Jean Ronald. "It is not normal to live in such an unequal country," Ronald added, standing in front of the float of "Prophet Mackenson," a popular and controversial Haitian religious leader. Mackenson Dorilas, a self-proclaimed "prophet," was sanctioned by the Haitian Ministry of faiths at the end of 2018 after saying he could cure AIDS with a bed bug remedy. The crowd of his faithful moved through streets of the capital, followed by large groups of demonstrators, praying and chanting slogans against the president. After repeated demonstrations and barricades regularly mounted by opponents of the president across major roads, many schools have closed their doors for more than a month. "I put on my uniform today, it is brand new, and the first chance I've had to put it on is in a demonstration," says Nelly Delamet, 19. "Things have to change: Jovenel is not good." Since coming to power in February 2017, Moise has had to face the anger of an opposition movement that refuses to recognize his victory in an election widely seen as dubious. Anger mounted in late August due to a national fuel shortage, and protests turned violent.

Thousands protest against Haiti's president Moise

Thousands of&nbsp;Haitians&nbsp;packed the&nbsp;streets&nbsp;in Port-Au-Prince on Sunday to call for President Jovenel Moise's resignation,&nbsp;singing&nbsp;and&nbsp;dancing&nbsp;in a carnival-like&nbsp;protest&nbsp;led by artists after weeks of intensifying&nbsp;anti-government&nbsp;demonstrations.

Opposition leaders and their supporters in the nation of 11 million people, the poorest in the Americas, have <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/protests-erupt-in-haiti-over-fuel-shortage-250321">called for Moise to step down </a>as anger grows over fuel and food shortages, a steep currency devaluation and corruption allegations.

Moise, who has denied wrongdoing, has taken a few public steps to address the grievances, adding to anger at the&nbsp;government. He took office in 2017 and has two years left in his term.

Up to about 10,000 people, including men and women wearing white in a show of solidarity, marched in the capital and its outskirts on Sunday to upbeat music blasting from trucks outfitted with powerful speakers, in a scene reminiscent of Haiti's cherished carnival celebrations.

"We have to change the system. We do not have access to housing, we have nothing to eat ... children cannot go to school," said Michelet, a&nbsp;protester who declined to give his last name. "The cost of living is increasing and Jovenel is not doing anything serious about it."

Port-Au-Prince Mayor Youri Chevry said he was heartened to see artists and musicians spearheading the demonstration.

"They are leading this movement today to help the people find solutions for their long-standing demands," he told a local radio station.

Unlike previous marches in which&nbsp;protesters clashed with police, the day was largely peaceful.

At least 17 people have been killed and 189 injured in the recent stretch of&nbsp;protests, according to Haiti's National Network for the Defense of Human Rights.

Thousands of Haitians packed the streets in Port-Au-Prince on Sunday to call for President Jovenel Moise's resignation, singing and dancing in a carnival-like protest led by artists after weeks of intensifying anti-government demonstrations.

Thousands of Haitians packed the streets in Port-Au-Prince on Sunday to call for President Jovenel Moise's resignation, singing and dancing in a carnival-like protest led by artists after weeks of intensifying anti-government demonstrations. Opposition leaders and their supporters in the nation of 11 million people, the poorest in the Americas, have called for Moise to step down as anger grows over fuel and food shortages, a steep currency devaluation and corruption allegations. Moise, who has denied wrongdoing, has taken a few public steps to address the grievances, adding to anger at the government. He took office in 2017 and has two years left in his term. Up to about 10,000 people, including men and women wearing white in a show of solidarity, marched in the capital and its outskirts on Sunday to upbeat music blasting from trucks outfitted with powerful speakers, in a scene reminiscent of Haiti's cherished carnival celebrations. "We have to change the system. We do not have access to housing, we have nothing to eat ... children cannot go to school," said Michelet, a protester who declined to give his last name. "The cost of living is increasing and Jovenel is not doing anything serious about it." Port-Au-Prince Mayor Youri Chevry said he was heartened to see artists and musicians spearheading the demonstration. "They are leading this movement today to help the people find solutions for their long-standing demands," he told a local radio station. Unlike previous marches in which protesters clashed with police, the day was largely peaceful. At least 17 people have been killed and 189 injured in the recent stretch of protests, according to Haiti's National Network for the Defense of Human Rights.

Haitians flock to streets in anti-government protest

Haitian opposition leaders led a large and mostly peaceful march in the capital on Friday as they called for the resignation of President Jovenel Moise, whom they blame for a deep economic and political crisis in the troubled Caribbean country.

Although some violence flared between protesters and police, the mood overall was calmer than in recent rallies, as the opposition appeared to heed calls from the United Nations and Canada to stage peaceful demonstrations.

At one point, protesters atop a truck blasting music used microphones to beseech others not to throw rocks at police and businesses.

Earlier in the day, clashes had broken out as helmeted police with shields used trucks, water cannons and tear gas to prevent protesters from marching on the headquarters of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-nuclear-watchdog-says-iran-taking-step-in-right-direction-253726">U.N.</a> peacekeeping and justice force near the Port-au-Prince airport.

Some protesters set tires aflame and hurled rocks, bottles and Molotov cocktails in the streets.

Many opposition leaders and disgruntled Haitians have called for Moise's ouster, blaming him for a failing to address problems widespread food and fuel shortages, a weakening currency, double-digit inflation and graft accusations made against public officials.

Andre Michel, a political opposition leader, told Reuters this week the demonstration was meant to send a "very strong message" that Moise needs to step down.

In a letter addressed to the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres dated Wednesday, opposition leaders urged the organization to disassociate from Moise, whose government they said helped commit a "massacre" in the poor La Saline neighbourhood in the capital.

Moise in late September removed several security officials following the incident.

"The country is on the brink of an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe," the letter stated, noting that shuttered businesses, banks, and schools have made Haiti "totally dysfunctional" and more than 100 demonstrators have been injured.

The country is still grappling with the fallout from past crises, including a 2010 earthquake that killed some 300,000 people.

Protests in the most impoverished country in the Americas last week were among the largest and most violent in months. During some of the unrest, specialized units of the U.N.-backed Haitian National Police were ransacked and looted and two police vehicles set on fire.

Anti-government demonstrations turned especially violent in February when the United Nations said 41 people were killed and another 100 injured. Police say at least five people have been killed in clashes in the past few weeks, but Moise has given no indication he intends to resign.

Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland this week condemned all violence in Haiti, and the U.N. reiterated earlier calls for calm.

Haitian opposition leaders led a large and mostly peaceful march in the capital on Friday as they called for the resignation of President Jovenel Moise, whom they blame for a deep economic and political crisis in the troubled Caribbean country.

Haitian opposition leaders led a large and mostly peaceful march in the capital on Friday as they called for the resignation of President Jovenel Moise, whom they blame for a deep economic and political crisis in the troubled Caribbean country. Although some violence flared between protesters and police, the mood overall was calmer than in recent rallies, as the opposition appeared to heed calls from the United Nations and Canada to stage peaceful demonstrations. At one point, protesters atop a truck blasting music used microphones to beseech others not to throw rocks at police and businesses. Earlier in the day, clashes had broken out as helmeted police with shields used trucks, water cannons and tear gas to prevent protesters from marching on the headquarters of the U.N. peacekeeping and justice force near the Port-au-Prince airport. Some protesters set tires aflame and hurled rocks, bottles and Molotov cocktails in the streets. Many opposition leaders and disgruntled Haitians have called for Moise's ouster, blaming him for a failing to address problems widespread food and fuel shortages, a weakening currency, double-digit inflation and graft accusations made against public officials. Andre Michel, a political opposition leader, told Reuters this week the demonstration was meant to send a "very strong message" that Moise needs to step down. In a letter addressed to the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres dated Wednesday, opposition leaders urged the organization to disassociate from Moise, whose government they said helped commit a "massacre" in the poor La Saline neighbourhood in the capital. Moise in late September removed several security officials following the incident. "The country is on the brink of an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe," the letter stated, noting that shuttered businesses, banks, and schools have made Haiti "totally dysfunctional" and more than 100 demonstrators have been injured. The country is still grappling with the fallout from past crises, including a 2010 earthquake that killed some 300,000 people. Protests in the most impoverished country in the Americas last week were among the largest and most violent in months. During some of the unrest, specialized units of the U.N.-backed Haitian National Police were ransacked and looted and two police vehicles set on fire. Anti-government demonstrations turned especially violent in February when the United Nations said 41 people were killed and another 100 injured. Police say at least five people have been killed in clashes in the past few weeks, but Moise has given no indication he intends to resign. Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland this week condemned all violence in Haiti, and the U.N. reiterated earlier calls for calm.

Haitian protesters clash with police in new push for president's ouster

Facing acute&nbsp;fuel&nbsp;shortages&nbsp;in their own country,&nbsp;Haitians&nbsp;took a chance to cross the border into the&nbsp;Dominican&nbsp;Republic&nbsp;in search of&nbsp;petrol&nbsp;on Monday.

Dozens were seen crossing the border and gathering around a&nbsp;petrol&nbsp;station in Dajabon, the capital city of the Dajabon province in the&nbsp;Dominican&nbsp;Republic, on the border with Haiti.

Haitians&nbsp;complained they need&nbsp;fuel&nbsp;to survive, while police in the&nbsp;Dominican&nbsp;Republic&nbsp;tighten their grip on security.

A dispute between Haiti and a US&nbsp;energy trading firm has to lead to long blackouts and&nbsp;fuel&nbsp;shortages&nbsp;in the Caribbean nation, feeding anger at President Jovenel Moise's government following the collapse of a supply deal with Venezuela last year.

The Western Hemisphere's poorest nation, Haiti long relied on&nbsp;fuel&nbsp;shipments from nearby OPEC member Venezuela, which offered cheap financing to several Caribbean nations to buy its gasoline, diesel and other products through a program called Petrocaribe.

But the scheme fell apart last year due to economic turmoil in Venezuela, forcing Haiti, a nation of 11 million people to return to international markets.

The result has put upward pressure on the prices of goods.

Facing acute fuel shortages in their own country, Haitians took a chance to cross the border into the Dominican Republic in search of petrol on Monday. Dozens were seen crossing the border and gathering around a petrol station in Dajabon, the capital city of the Dajabon province in the Dominican Republic, on the border with Haiti.

Facing acute fuel shortages in their own country, Haitians took a chance to cross the border into the Dominican Republic in search of petrol on Monday. Dozens were seen crossing the border and gathering around a petrol station in Dajabon, the capital city of the Dajabon province in the Dominican Republic, on the border with Haiti. Haitians complained they need fuel to survive, while police in the Dominican Republic tighten their grip on security. A dispute between Haiti and a US energy trading firm has to lead to long blackouts and fuel shortages in the Caribbean nation, feeding anger at President Jovenel Moise's government following the collapse of a supply deal with Venezuela last year. The Western Hemisphere's poorest nation, Haiti long relied on fuel shipments from nearby OPEC member Venezuela, which offered cheap financing to several Caribbean nations to buy its gasoline, diesel and other products through a program called Petrocaribe. But the scheme fell apart last year due to economic turmoil in Venezuela, forcing Haiti, a nation of 11 million people to return to international markets. The result has put upward pressure on the prices of goods.

Fuel shortages drive Haitians into the Dominican Republic for petrol

Protests erupt in Haiti over fuel shortage. Watch video to know more.

Protests erupt in Haiti over fuel shortage

He's known as Barbecue, an ex-policeman suspected in the massacre of dozens of men, women and children in the Haitian capital. But he is a hero in his neighbourhood, and followed by crowds of adoring residents who consider him their protector.

Haiti massacre suspect a hero in his neighbourhood

A heavily armed group of foreign nationals, who were arrested in Haiti on Sunday after days of massive anti-government protests, were handed over to US authorities on Wednesday, Haitian and US authorities said.

It was unclear if all the members of the group, which reportedly included five Americans, a Serb and a Russian, were flown to the United States.

"The return of the individuals to the U.S. was coordinated with the Haitian authorities," a State Department representative for Western Hemisphere Affairs said in an emailed statement, without providing further details.

A spokesman for Haiti's Justice Ministry also confirmed that the individuals were "were handed over to U.S. authorities this Wednesday."

Media reports said that, at the time of their arrest, the men were armed with semi-automatic weapons, rifles, pistols, drones and satellite phones in their two vehicles.

Videos circulating on social media alleged to show at least six men being escorted through the airport in Port-au-Prince toward a plane bound for the United States.

Since the arrests, Haitian newspapers have printed names that corresponded to social media profiles of U.S. citizens claiming military backgrounds. However, Reuters could not independently confirm the identities of the arrested men.

Thousands of demonstrators called for President Jovenel Moise to resign and for an independent probe into the whereabouts of funds from the PetroCaribe agreement, an alliance between Caribbean countries and OPEC member Venezuela.

Protests that began on Feb. 7 died down after about a week-and-a-half but opposition leaders have called for Haitians to take to the streets again on Friday.

The State Department last week ordered all non-emergency U.S. personnel and their families to leave Haiti and advised U.S. citizens not to travel there.

A heavily armed group of foreign nationals, who were arrested in Haiti on Sunday after days of massive anti-government protests, were handed over to US authorities on Wednesday, Haitian and US authorities said.

A heavily armed group of foreign nationals, who were arrested in Haiti on Sunday after days of massive anti-government protests, were handed over to US authorities on Wednesday, Haitian and US authorities said. It was unclear if all the members of the group, which reportedly included five Americans, a Serb and a Russian, were flown to the United States. "The return of the individuals to the U.S. was coordinated with the Haitian authorities," a State Department representative for Western Hemisphere Affairs said in an emailed statement, without providing further details. A spokesman for Haiti's Justice Ministry also confirmed that the individuals were "were handed over to U.S. authorities this Wednesday." Media reports said that, at the time of their arrest, the men were armed with semi-automatic weapons, rifles, pistols, drones and satellite phones in their two vehicles. Videos circulating on social media alleged to show at least six men being escorted through the airport in Port-au-Prince toward a plane bound for the United States. Since the arrests, Haitian newspapers have printed names that corresponded to social media profiles of U.S. citizens claiming military backgrounds. However, Reuters could not independently confirm the identities of the arrested men. Thousands of demonstrators called for President Jovenel Moise to resign and for an independent probe into the whereabouts of funds from the PetroCaribe agreement, an alliance between Caribbean countries and OPEC member Venezuela. Protests that began on Feb. 7 died down after about a week-and-a-half but opposition leaders have called for Haitians to take to the streets again on Friday. The State Department last week ordered all non-emergency U.S. personnel and their families to leave Haiti and advised U.S. citizens not to travel there.

Heavily armed foreigners arrested in Haiti sent to United States, officials say

Haitian police arrested a group of foreign nationals including Americans armed with semi-automatic weapons, Haitian newspapers reported on Monday, adding to uncertainty in the poor Caribbean country after more than a week of anti-government protests.

Haitian newspaper Le Nouvelliste reported that seven foreigners and a Haitian were in the group that was picked up by the police on Sunday night. Police found rifles, pistols, drones and satellite phones in their vehicle, the paper said.

Other media said several of the men were US citizens and one was Serbian.

Since February 7, thousands of demonstrators have called for President Jovenel Moise to resign and for an independent probe into the whereabouts of funds from the PetroCaribe agreement, an alliance between Caribbean countries and OPEC member Venezuela.

Haitian police arrested a group of foreign nationals including Americans armed with semi-automatic weapons, Haitian newspapers reported on Monday, adding to uncertainty in the poor Caribbean country after more than a week of anti-government protests.

Haitian police arrested a group of foreign nationals including Americans armed with semi-automatic weapons, Haitian newspapers reported on Monday, adding to uncertainty in the poor Caribbean country after more than a week of anti-government protests. Haitian newspaper Le Nouvelliste reported that seven foreigners and a Haitian were in the group that was picked up by the police on Sunday night. Police found rifles, pistols, drones and satellite phones in their vehicle, the paper said. Other media said several of the men were US citizens and one was Serbian. Since February 7, thousands of demonstrators have called for President Jovenel Moise to resign and for an independent probe into the whereabouts of funds from the PetroCaribe agreement, an alliance between Caribbean countries and OPEC member Venezuela.

Americans arrested in Haiti with weapons: Source

Haitian President Jovenel Moise on Thursday broke his silence after a week of violent protests demanding his resignation that have left at least seven people dead.&nbsp;

"I will not leave the country in the hands of armed gangs and drug traffickers," he said in a pre-recorded address broadcast on state television, speaking in Creole in the aftermath of clashes between authorities and demonstrators in the capital Port-au-Prince.&nbsp;

The US State Department meanwhile announced it was recalling all "non-emergency personnel" from Haiti and warned Americans against travelling to the unrest-plagued nation.

"There are currently widespread, violent, and unpredictable demonstrations in Port-au-Prince and elsewhere in Haiti. Due to these demonstrations, on February 14, 2019, the Department of State ordered the departure of all non-emergency US personnel and their family members," it said in a statement.

Demonstrators are demanding Moise quit over a scandal centring on the Petrocaribe fund, under which Venezuela supplied Haiti and the other Caribbean and Central American countries with oil at cut-rate prices and on easy credit terms for years.

A report released in January on the misuse of the money named a company that was then headed by Moise as a beneficiary of funds from a road construction project that never had a signed contract.&nbsp;

During his election campaign, Moise promised "food on every plate and money in every pocket," yet most Haitians still struggle to make ends meet and face inflation that has risen 15 per cent since his election.

Haitian President Jovenel Moise on Thursday broke his silence after a week of violent protests demanding his resignation that have left at least seven people dead.

Haitian President Jovenel Moise on Thursday broke his silence after a week of violent protests demanding his resignation that have left at least seven people dead. "I will not leave the country in the hands of armed gangs and drug traffickers," he said in a pre-recorded address broadcast on state television, speaking in Creole in the aftermath of clashes between authorities and demonstrators in the capital Port-au-Prince. The US State Department meanwhile announced it was recalling all "non-emergency personnel" from Haiti and warned Americans against travelling to the unrest-plagued nation. "There are currently widespread, violent, and unpredictable demonstrations in Port-au-Prince and elsewhere in Haiti. Due to these demonstrations, on February 14, 2019, the Department of State ordered the departure of all non-emergency US personnel and their family members," it said in a statement. Demonstrators are demanding Moise quit over a scandal centring on the Petrocaribe fund, under which Venezuela supplied Haiti and the other Caribbean and Central American countries with oil at cut-rate prices and on easy credit terms for years. A report released in January on the misuse of the money named a company that was then headed by Moise as a beneficiary of funds from a road construction project that never had a signed contract. During his election campaign, Moise promised "food on every plate and money in every pocket," yet most Haitians still struggle to make ends meet and face inflation that has risen 15 per cent since his election.

Haiti President Moise breaks silence after week of violent unrest

The political crisis gripping Haiti entered its seventh day on Wednesday amid violent protests by opposition groups demanding the resignation of President Jovenel Moise which have left at least nine people dead.

The demonstrators, mostly young men, returned to the streets of the capital Wednesday to call for the resignation of Moise, who remains silent and out of sight since his appeal for dialogue on February 9, as he faces increased pressure to step down from several sectors of the opposition.

At least one man was killed on Wednesday and several people, including a journalist from the daily Le Nouvelliste, were injured during violent clashes around the National Palace between protesters, who threw stones, and policemen, who responded with gunshots.

Firefighters and police were called when demonstrators in Delmas, just south of the capital, tried to set fire to the headquarters of the state radio channel.

Faced with the climate of uncertainty and insecurity across the nation, many embassies have suspended their consular services, while others were closed.

Prime Minister Jean Henry Ceant convened a council of ministers for Wednesday, while foreign minister Edmond Bocchid was in Washington to discuss the situation with National Security Advisor John Bolton.

Assad Volcy, one of the opposition leaders, told EFE that "there is no turning back. We have to solve the problem of inequality and hunger".

Senator Youri Latortue, a former ally of Jovenel Moise, called on the president to resign "to avoid chaos and more blood."

Most schools have been closed since the protests began on February 7, while public transport and local commerce have almost ground to a halt.

Many businesses and fuel stations have been looted, and public and private vehicles burned, as the security situation in the impoverished Caribbean nation threatens to spiral out of control.

The streets of the country's capital, Port-au-Prince are filled with garbage and barricades, some of them burning, making it impossible for traffic to pass.

Leaders of opposition parties and civil society groups have asked the demonstrators to intensify their actions until Moise resigns.

So far, the only pronouncement of the international community came this weekend through the Core Group, made up of the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the ambassadors of Germany, Brazil, Canada, Spain, the United States, France, the European Union and the special representative of the OAS, who called for dialogue to seek a solution to the political and economic crisis.

The protests are taking place in the midst of a severe economic downturn, which was aggravated this year by a sharp depreciation of the gourde, Haiti's official currency, and an electricity supply crisis resulting from the shortage of gasoline.

Haiti's economy, where more than half of its 10 million inhabitants survive on less than $2 a day, grew by just 1.4 per cent in 2018, one of the lowest growth rates in the region and well below the 2.2 per cent forecast at the beginning of last year, which was later reduced to 1.8 percent.

Demonstrators also demand justice for alleged irregularities in the Petrocaribe program, through which Venezuela supplies oil to Haiti at favourable prices.

An audit presented last week by the Court of Auditors revealed irregularities between 2008 and 2016 in this programme and pointed to 15 former ministers and current officials who are involved in this case, as well as a company run by Moise before he became president

The political crisis gripping Haiti entered its seventh day on Wednesday amid violent protests by opposition groups demanding the resignation of President Jovenel Moise which have left at least nine people dead.

The political crisis gripping Haiti entered its seventh day on Wednesday amid violent protests by opposition groups demanding the resignation of President Jovenel Moise which have left at least nine people dead. The demonstrators, mostly young men, returned to the streets of the capital Wednesday to call for the resignation of Moise, who remains silent and out of sight since his appeal for dialogue on February 9, as he faces increased pressure to step down from several sectors of the opposition. At least one man was killed on Wednesday and several people, including a journalist from the daily Le Nouvelliste, were injured during violent clashes around the National Palace between protesters, who threw stones, and policemen, who responded with gunshots. Firefighters and police were called when demonstrators in Delmas, just south of the capital, tried to set fire to the headquarters of the state radio channel. Faced with the climate of uncertainty and insecurity across the nation, many embassies have suspended their consular services, while others were closed. Prime Minister Jean Henry Ceant convened a council of ministers for Wednesday, while foreign minister Edmond Bocchid was in Washington to discuss the situation with National Security Advisor John Bolton. Assad Volcy, one of the opposition leaders, told EFE that "there is no turning back. We have to solve the problem of inequality and hunger". Senator Youri Latortue, a former ally of Jovenel Moise, called on the president to resign "to avoid chaos and more blood." Most schools have been closed since the protests began on February 7, while public transport and local commerce have almost ground to a halt. Many businesses and fuel stations have been looted, and public and private vehicles burned, as the security situation in the impoverished Caribbean nation threatens to spiral out of control. The streets of the country's capital, Port-au-Prince are filled with garbage and barricades, some of them burning, making it impossible for traffic to pass. Leaders of opposition parties and civil society groups have asked the demonstrators to intensify their actions until Moise resigns. So far, the only pronouncement of the international community came this weekend through the Core Group, made up of the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the ambassadors of Germany, Brazil, Canada, Spain, the United States, France, the European Union and the special representative of the OAS, who called for dialogue to seek a solution to the political and economic crisis. The protests are taking place in the midst of a severe economic downturn, which was aggravated this year by a sharp depreciation of the gourde, Haiti's official currency, and an electricity supply crisis resulting from the shortage of gasoline. Haiti's economy, where more than half of its 10 million inhabitants survive on less than $2 a day, grew by just 1.4 per cent in 2018, one of the lowest growth rates in the region and well below the 2.2 per cent forecast at the beginning of last year, which was later reduced to 1.8 percent. Demonstrators also demand justice for alleged irregularities in the Petrocaribe program, through which Venezuela supplies oil to Haiti at favourable prices. An audit presented last week by the Court of Auditors revealed irregularities between 2008 and 2016 in this programme and pointed to 15 former ministers and current officials who are involved in this case, as well as a company run by Moise before he became president

Violent protests continue in Haiti as crisis deepens

At least 28 Haitians have drowned off the coast of Abaco in the Bahamas, officials said Sunday, the latest tragedy at sea for migrants seeking to leave the Caribbean's poorest economy.

"Thus far, a total of 17 persons have been rescued alive and 28 bodies have been recovered from the water" after two days of dive operations, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force said.

The incident unfolded Saturday when the ship carrying the Haitians sank near Fowl Cay, six miles off the coast of Marsh Harbour, Abaco.

Fifteen survivors and 13 dead bodies were recovered Saturday in a joint mission between the RBDF and US Coast Guard. On Sunday, two more survivors were found alive on a nearby cay in addition to 15 bodies in the sunken vessel.

In a tweet, the US embassy in Haiti described the ship as a vessel trafficking people out of Haiti, adding: "No journey is worth risking lives - please urge families and communities: Illegal migrant &amp; smuggling operations are dangerous and frequently end in tragedy."

The RBDF added that this year alone, some 300 Haitians had been apprehended for illegal entry during four separate incidents.

In a country where more than 60 per cent of the population lives on less than two dollars a day, there are frequent attempts to reach the Bahamas or Turks and Caicos illegally.

In recent years, thousands of young Haitians have migrated to Chile or Brazil, countries where visas are more easily obtained.

Although Haitians historically have gone to the United States, and to Florida in particular, the flow of migrants has shifted to Canada and other neighbouring countries.

Since a devastating earthquake in 2010, about 60,000 Haitians have found temporary protected status in the United States.

US President Donald Trump's administration announced in 2017 it was terminating the program but the decision has been challenged in several court cases.

At least 28 Haitians have drowned off the coast of Abaco in the Bahamas, officials said Sunday, the latest tragedy at sea for migrants seeking to leave the Caribbean's poorest economy.

At least 28 Haitians have drowned off the coast of Abaco in the Bahamas, officials said Sunday, the latest tragedy at sea for migrants seeking to leave the Caribbean's poorest economy. "Thus far, a total of 17 persons have been rescued alive and 28 bodies have been recovered from the water" after two days of dive operations, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force said. The incident unfolded Saturday when the ship carrying the Haitians sank near Fowl Cay, six miles off the coast of Marsh Harbour, Abaco. Fifteen survivors and 13 dead bodies were recovered Saturday in a joint mission between the RBDF and US Coast Guard. On Sunday, two more survivors were found alive on a nearby cay in addition to 15 bodies in the sunken vessel. In a tweet, the US embassy in Haiti described the ship as a vessel trafficking people out of Haiti, adding: "No journey is worth risking lives - please urge families and communities: Illegal migrant & smuggling operations are dangerous and frequently end in tragedy." The RBDF added that this year alone, some 300 Haitians had been apprehended for illegal entry during four separate incidents. In a country where more than 60 per cent of the population lives on less than two dollars a day, there are frequent attempts to reach the Bahamas or Turks and Caicos illegally. In recent years, thousands of young Haitians have migrated to Chile or Brazil, countries where visas are more easily obtained. Although Haitians historically have gone to the United States, and to Florida in particular, the flow of migrants has shifted to Canada and other neighbouring countries. Since a devastating earthquake in 2010, about 60,000 Haitians have found temporary protected status in the United States. US President Donald Trump's administration announced in 2017 it was terminating the program but the decision has been challenged in several court cases.

28 Haitians dead after ship sinks off Bahamas: Officials

An earthquake that struck off the northern coast of Haiti late on Saturday killed at least 11 people and injured more than a hundred when several buildings collapsed in the impoverished Caribbean country, officials said.

The magnitude 5.9 quake was centered about 12 miles (20 kms) west-northwest of the coastal town of Port-de-Paix, at a depth of 11.7 km, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said.

The police chief for the northwest region, Jackson Hilaire, said at least seven people were killed and more than 100 injured in Port-de-Paix.

Another four people died in and around the town of Gros-Morne further south, including a boy struck by a falling building, said mayor Jean Renel Tide.

The tremor was one of the strongest to hit Haiti since a 7.0 magnitude quake struck near the capital, Port-au-Prince, in 2010, killing tens of thousands of people.

In a post on Twitter, President Jovenel Moise urged people to remain calm after the civil protection agency reported the latest quake had caused outbreaks of panic in northern towns.

The agency said Port-de-Paix, Gros-Morne, the town of Chansolme and the island of Tortuga had suffered some of the worst damage. Some houses were destroyed, it said.

Le Nouvelliste newspaper said one person was killed when an auditorium collapsed in Gros-Morne and that detainees were released from a police holding cell that was damaged.

The tremor also damaged the facade of a church in the town of Plaisance and a house next door collapsed, the paper said.

Saturday's quake was felt in Port-au-Prince but initial reports on Twitter said it had not caused major damage there.

An earthquake that struck off the northern coast of Haiti late on Saturday killed at least 11 people and injured more than a hundred when several buildings collapsed in the impoverished Caribbean country, officials said.

An earthquake that struck off the northern coast of Haiti late on Saturday killed at least 11 people and injured more than a hundred when several buildings collapsed in the impoverished Caribbean country, officials said. The magnitude 5.9 quake was centered about 12 miles (20 kms) west-northwest of the coastal town of Port-de-Paix, at a depth of 11.7 km, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said. The police chief for the northwest region, Jackson Hilaire, said at least seven people were killed and more than 100 injured in Port-de-Paix. Another four people died in and around the town of Gros-Morne further south, including a boy struck by a falling building, said mayor Jean Renel Tide. The tremor was one of the strongest to hit Haiti since a 7.0 magnitude quake struck near the capital, Port-au-Prince, in 2010, killing tens of thousands of people. In a post on Twitter, President Jovenel Moise urged people to remain calm after the civil protection agency reported the latest quake had caused outbreaks of panic in northern towns. The agency said Port-de-Paix, Gros-Morne, the town of Chansolme and the island of Tortuga had suffered some of the worst damage. Some houses were destroyed, it said. Le Nouvelliste newspaper said one person was killed when an auditorium collapsed in Gros-Morne and that detainees were released from a police holding cell that was damaged. The tremor also damaged the facade of a church in the town of Plaisance and a house next door collapsed, the paper said. Saturday's quake was felt in Port-au-Prince but initial reports on Twitter said it had not caused major damage there.

At least 11 dead as 5.9 earthquake topples homes in northern Haiti

A 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck off the northwest coast of Haiti late Saturday, killing at least 11 people, injuring more than 130 others and damaging homes in the Caribbean nation, authorities said.

The epicentre of the quake was located about 19 kilometres (12 miles) northwest of the city of Port-de-Paix, the US Geological Survey reported.

The quake, which was felt across the country, struck at 8:10 pm (0010 GMT Sunday) at a shallow depth of 11.7 kilometres.

Government spokesman Eddy Jackson Alexis told AFP that 11 people had been reported dead so far, seven of them in Port-de-Paix, the capital of Haiti's Nord-Ouest department.

Four others were killed in the town of Gros-Morne, about 50 kilometres to the southeast, the spokesman said.

Haiti's civil protection agency put the preliminary number of injured at 135.

Two minor aftershocks were registered, the agency said, adding that no tsunami warning was issued in connection with the quake activity.

The town of Chansolme and the small island of Tortuga also suffered damage, officials said.

The tremor rattled the capital Port-de-Prince, sparking fear among residents still reeling from the massive 2010 earthquake that left at least 200,000 people dead and 300,000 more wounded.

"I urge the population to remain calm," President Jovenel Moise said on Twitter, adding that local and regional authorities were assisting those in need.

Prime Minister Jean-Henry Ceant is heading up an inter-ministerial disaster response task force, he said on Twitter.

"The injured are being treated at area hospitals," the civil protection agency said, noting that some of the injuries were sustained when people panicked after the quake.

The agency confirmed that some homes were destroyed or damaged, without offering specific figures.

Images of damaged homes and partially destroyed buildings were circulating on social media, but AFP was not immediately able to confirm their authenticity.

The Nord-Ouest department is the poorest part of impoverished Haiti, with many areas isolated due to the dire state of the roads.

The devastating 7.0-magnitude quake in January 2010 left more than 1.5 million people homeless. Tens of thousands remain in makeshift camps.

The damage caused was worth an estimated 120 percent of GDP in Haiti, the poorest country in the western hemisphere.

Longer-term reconstruction has been hampered by lingering political chaos in the nation of nearly 11 million people, and by a deadly cholera epidemic introduced by infected Nepalese UN peacekeepers sent in after the quake.

A 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck off the northwest coast of Haiti late Saturday, killing at least 11 people, injuring more than 130 others and damaging homes in the Caribbean nation, authorities said.

A 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck off the northwest coast of Haiti late Saturday, killing at least 11 people, injuring more than 130 others and damaging homes in the Caribbean nation, authorities said. The epicentre of the quake was located about 19 kilometres (12 miles) northwest of the city of Port-de-Paix, the US Geological Survey reported. The quake, which was felt across the country, struck at 8:10 pm (0010 GMT Sunday) at a shallow depth of 11.7 kilometres. Government spokesman Eddy Jackson Alexis told AFP that 11 people had been reported dead so far, seven of them in Port-de-Paix, the capital of Haiti's Nord-Ouest department. Four others were killed in the town of Gros-Morne, about 50 kilometres to the southeast, the spokesman said. Haiti's civil protection agency put the preliminary number of injured at 135. Two minor aftershocks were registered, the agency said, adding that no tsunami warning was issued in connection with the quake activity. The town of Chansolme and the small island of Tortuga also suffered damage, officials said. The tremor rattled the capital Port-de-Prince, sparking fear among residents still reeling from the massive 2010 earthquake that left at least 200,000 people dead and 300,000 more wounded. "I urge the population to remain calm," President Jovenel Moise said on Twitter, adding that local and regional authorities were assisting those in need. Prime Minister Jean-Henry Ceant is heading up an inter-ministerial disaster response task force, he said on Twitter. "The injured are being treated at area hospitals," the civil protection agency said, noting that some of the injuries were sustained when people panicked after the quake. The agency confirmed that some homes were destroyed or damaged, without offering specific figures. Images of damaged homes and partially destroyed buildings were circulating on social media, but AFP was not immediately able to confirm their authenticity. The Nord-Ouest department is the poorest part of impoverished Haiti, with many areas isolated due to the dire state of the roads. The devastating 7.0-magnitude quake in January 2010 left more than 1.5 million people homeless. Tens of thousands remain in makeshift camps. The damage caused was worth an estimated 120 percent of GDP in Haiti, the poorest country in the western hemisphere. Longer-term reconstruction has been hampered by lingering political chaos in the nation of nearly 11 million people, and by a deadly cholera epidemic introduced by infected Nepalese UN peacekeepers sent in after the quake.

At least 11 dead, over 130 injured in Haiti earthquake: Govt spokesman

&nbspArgentina showed once again how reliant they are on Lionel Messi as the Barcelona forward scored a hat-trick in their 4-0 World Cup warm-up win over Haiti on Tuesday.

With Javier Mascherano making his 143rd appearance to put him one ahead of Javier Zanetti as Argentina's most capped player, Messi got the opener from the penalty spot after 17 minutes.

He doubled their lead 12 minutes into the second half with a simple tap-in after the goalkeeper could only parry a header, scored Argentina's third after 65 minutes, and then set up Sergio Aguero to make it four just two minutes later.

Argentina failed to add to their tally but should have been further ahead against Haiti, whose sole appearance at the World Cup finals came in 1974 and are ranked 108th in the world, 103 places below them in the world rankings.

"More than the result we were able to say goodbye to our fans and show that we are going to Russia with hope," Messi said.

"We're not going as favourites because we had a complicated time in the qualifiers, but we are training well and we will give it our all."

Aguero was fit again after a knee injury but began the game on the bench, with Gonzalo Higuain and Angel Di Maria starting up front alongside Messi.

However, both men failed to shine and instead it was Aguero and Boca Juniors' Christian Pavon who staked their claim for a World Cup place when they came on after an hour.

Argentina now fly to Barcelona to prepare for World Cup matches against Iceland on June 16, Croatia on June 21 and Nigeria on June 26.

Argentina now fly to Barcelona to prepare for World Cup matches against Iceland

&nbspArgentina showed once again how reliant they are on Lionel Messi as the Barcelona forward scored a hat-trick in their 4-0 World Cup warm-up win over Haiti on Tuesday. With Javier Mascherano making his 143rd appearance to put him one ahead of Javier Zanetti as Argentina's most capped player, Messi got the opener from the penalty spot after 17 minutes. He doubled their lead 12 minutes into the second half with a simple tap-in after the goalkeeper could only parry a header, scored Argentina's third after 65 minutes, and then set up Sergio Aguero to make it four just two minutes later. Argentina failed to add to their tally but should have been further ahead against Haiti, whose sole appearance at the World Cup finals came in 1974 and are ranked 108th in the world, 103 places below them in the world rankings. "More than the result we were able to say goodbye to our fans and show that we are going to Russia with hope," Messi said. "We're not going as favourites because we had a complicated time in the qualifiers, but we are training well and we will give it our all." Aguero was fit again after a knee injury but began the game on the bench, with Gonzalo Higuain and Angel Di Maria starting up front alongside Messi. However, both men failed to shine and instead it was Aguero and Boca Juniors' Christian Pavon who staked their claim for a World Cup place when they came on after an hour. Argentina now fly to Barcelona to prepare for World Cup matches against Iceland on June 16, Croatia on June 21 and Nigeria on June 26.

Football World Cup friendly: Messi's hat-trick sinks Haiti

Haiti on Thursday suspended the operations of British charity Oxfam pending the outcome of its investigation into allegations that its staff sexually exploited Haitians after a devastating 2010 earthquake. 
 
The country&#39;s ministry of planning and foreign aid said Oxfam GB had made a &quot;serious error&quot; by failing to inform Haitian authorities of the actions by their staff at the time they occurred. 
 
&quot;These reprehensible acts, alleged crimes, acknowledged by the perpetrators as well as the NGO, are a serious violation of the dignity of the Haitian people,&quot; a government statement said. 
 
It said the charity was suspended for two months pending an internal Haitian investigation into the matter. 
 
Aviol Fleurant, the minister for planning and foreign aid, said that if Haiti&#39;s own investigations found &quot;a link between the crimes committed and the money that Oxfam received to help the Haitian people I will see to it that the foreign ministry declares, in the name of the government, Oxfam-GB persona non-grata and will have to leave the country.&quot; 
 
&quot;Haiti is no longer an NGO republic,&quot; he said after meeting with Oxfam&#39;s director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Simon Ticehurst. &quot;We are not joking: the dignity of the Haitian people has no price.&quot;

An investigation conducted by Oxfam a year after the earthquake had found that seven staff were accused of using prostitutes at an Oxfam-funded residence. 
 
The 2011 report, disclosed on Monday, also found that three staff members had physically threatened a witness. 
 
One official has acknowledged paying for prostitutes and the others were accused of harassment and intimidation. 
 
A young Haitian woman told The Times newspaper she had had relations with the former Oxfam country director in Haiti, Roland Van Hauwermeiren, when she was 16 and he was 61. 
 
Van Hauwermeiren denied to Belgian media last week, however, that he had organized orgies with young prostitutes in Haiti, and said he had &quot;intimate relations&quot; with &quot;an honorable, mature woman&quot; whom he did not pay. 
 
Four staff were fired for gross misconduct and three others, including Van Hauwermeiren, were allowed to quit.

Greater scrutiny 
 
Oxfam formally apologized to the Haitian government on Monday for its handling of the scandal and for failing to report it promptly to local authorities. 
 
&quot;It was not for Oxfam to decide whether a crime had been committed... that was the wrong decision,&quot; Oxfam GB&#39;s chief executive Mark Goldring said Tuesday at a hearing before a British parliamentary committee. 
 
Fleurant, the planning minister, said he had not ruled out demanding the extradition of Van Hauwermeiren and others to face charges in Haiti. 
 
&quot;There could be an extradition: we could call for them to be brought back to Haiti,&quot; he said, adding that if that did not succeed &quot;we could bring a civil action, or help the victims do so.&quot; 
 
The strong line taken by the government was met with approval by Haitian human rights groups.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;It&#39;s a good decision and it also sends the right message to other NGO&#39;s operating in the mess of Haiti,&quot; said Haitian lawyer Mario Joseph, while warning that such talk &quot;could be much ado about nothing if all the means to carry out an inquiry are not deployed to bring these people to justice.&quot;

The Haiti scandal has opened the charity to greater scrutiny, leading to 26 new cases of sexual misconduct, most involving its international operations.

Haiti's ministry of planning and foreign aid said Oxfam GB had made a "serious error" by failing to inform Haitian authorities of the actions by their staff at the time they occurred

Haiti on Thursday suspended the operations of British charity Oxfam pending the outcome of its investigation into allegations that its staff sexually exploited Haitians after a devastating 2010 earthquake. The country's ministry of planning and foreign aid said Oxfam GB had made a "serious error" by failing to inform Haitian authorities of the actions by their staff at the time they occurred. "These reprehensible acts, alleged crimes, acknowledged by the perpetrators as well as the NGO, are a serious violation of the dignity of the Haitian people," a government statement said. It said the charity was suspended for two months pending an internal Haitian investigation into the matter. Aviol Fleurant, the minister for planning and foreign aid, said that if Haiti's own investigations found "a link between the crimes committed and the money that Oxfam received to help the Haitian people I will see to it that the foreign ministry declares, in the name of the government, Oxfam-GB persona non-grata and will have to leave the country." "Haiti is no longer an NGO republic," he said after meeting with Oxfam's director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Simon Ticehurst. "We are not joking: the dignity of the Haitian people has no price." An investigation conducted by Oxfam a year after the earthquake had found that seven staff were accused of using prostitutes at an Oxfam-funded residence. The 2011 report, disclosed on Monday, also found that three staff members had physically threatened a witness. One official has acknowledged paying for prostitutes and the others were accused of harassment and intimidation. A young Haitian woman told The Times newspaper she had had relations with the former Oxfam country director in Haiti, Roland Van Hauwermeiren, when she was 16 and he was 61. Van Hauwermeiren denied to Belgian media last week, however, that he had organized orgies with young prostitutes in Haiti, and said he had "intimate relations" with "an honorable, mature woman" whom he did not pay. Four staff were fired for gross misconduct and three others, including Van Hauwermeiren, were allowed to quit. Greater scrutiny Oxfam formally apologized to the Haitian government on Monday for its handling of the scandal and for failing to report it promptly to local authorities. "It was not for Oxfam to decide whether a crime had been committed... that was the wrong decision," Oxfam GB's chief executive Mark Goldring said Tuesday at a hearing before a British parliamentary committee. Fleurant, the planning minister, said he had not ruled out demanding the extradition of Van Hauwermeiren and others to face charges in Haiti. "There could be an extradition: we could call for them to be brought back to Haiti," he said, adding that if that did not succeed "we could bring a civil action, or help the victims do so." The strong line taken by the government was met with approval by Haitian human rights groups. "It's a good decision and it also sends the right message to other NGO's operating in the mess of Haiti," said Haitian lawyer Mario Joseph, while warning that such talk "could be much ado about nothing if all the means to carry out an inquiry are not deployed to bring these people to justice." The Haiti scandal has opened the charity to greater scrutiny, leading to 26 new cases of sexual misconduct, most involving its international operations.

Haiti suspends Oxfam operations pending investigation into sexual abuse

Facing strong condemnation at home and abroad, US&nbsp;President Donald Trump on Friday denied using the word &quot;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/why-do-we-want-people-from-these-shithole-countries-trump-over-immigrants-from-africa-haiti-29278" target="_blank">shithole</a>&quot; to describe Haiti and African countries, but kept up criticism of a Senate immigration plan that he said would force the United States to admit people from countries that &quot;are doing badly.&quot;

Trump reportedly made the remarks at a White House meeting on immigration on Thursday. US&nbsp;Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, who attended the gathering, told reporters on Friday that Trump used &quot;vile, vulgar&quot; language, including repeatedly using the word &quot;shithole&quot; when speaking about African countries.

The Republican president&#39;s comments were decried as racist by <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/54-african-countries-demand-trump-apology-over-shithole-remark-29377" target="_blank">African and Haitian politicians</a>, by the United Nations human rights office and by US&nbsp;lawmakers from both major parties.

Trump, who has been accused of racism over several issues since he took office a year ago, sought to walk back the comments on Friday, saying on Twitter, &quot;The language used by me at the DACA meeting was tough, but this was not the language used.&quot;

Trump also denied saying &quot;anything derogatory about Haitians other than Haiti is, obviously, a very poor and troubled country.&quot;

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Never said anything derogatory about Haitians other than Haiti is, obviously, a very poor and troubled country. Never said &ldquo;take them out.&rdquo; Made up by Dems. I have a wonderful relationship with Haitians. Probably should record future meetings - unfortunately, no trust!
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/951813216291708928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
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According to two sources, at Thursday&#39;s meeting Trump questioned why the United States would want to accept immigrants from Haiti and African nations, referring to some as &quot;shithole countries.&quot;

While many Republican lawmakers stayed quiet on Trump&#39;s remarks, Paul Ryan, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, called them &quot;unfortunate&quot; and &quot;unhelpful,&quot; noting in an interview on CNN that his family had emigrated to the United States from Ireland to help build the nation&#39;s railroads.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

At an event on Friday at the White House, Trump honoured the memory of Martin Luther King Jr, the civil-rights era activist who was slain in 1968. King&#39;s memory is marked with a national holiday, which falls this year on Monday.

Trump stood beside Isaac Newton Farris, King&#39;s nephew, while a group of about 20 African-American supporters and members of his administration were on hand in the Roosevelt Room, including Ben Carson, his Housing and Urban Development secretary. He ignored reporters who shouted questions about his remarks.

A group of Republican and Democratic senators has been working for months to craft legislation that would protect 700,000 young adults who were brought into the country illegally as children and later shielded from deportation under a program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA.

In a series of tweets on Friday, Trump also suggested that momentum toward a deal on maintaining such protection had stalled. &quot;The so-called bipartisan DACA deal presented yesterday to myself and a group of Republican Senators and Congressmen was a big step backwards,&quot; he said.

The tentative deal also addresses border security, including a border wall, the diversity visa lottery and chain migration, in which US&nbsp;green-card holders can sponsor other family members for permanent residence in the country.

Among other objections, Trump said the plan did not provide proper funding for the proposed wall that he made a centre-piece of his election campaign. He added the country &quot;would be forced to take large numbers of people from high crime countries which are doing badly.&quot;

Haiti said it was shocked by Trump&#39;s reported remarks on Thursday and summoned the top US&nbsp;diplomat in the country, asking for an apology if the vulgar term had been used.

El Salvador&#39;s government sent the US&nbsp;a formal letter of protest that said the president had &quot;implicitly&quot; accepted the use of &quot;harsh terms detrimental to the dignity of El Salvador and other countries.&quot;

Botswana also said it had summoned the US&nbsp;ambassador to that country to &quot;express its displeasure&quot; and had asked him whether Botswana &quot;is regarded as a &#39;shithole&#39; country.&quot;

Trump&#39;s comments are extremely offensive to South Africa, said Jessie Duarte, a senior official with the ruling African National Congress. &quot;Ours is not a shithole country. Neither is Haiti or any other country in distress,&quot; she said.

In Geneva, UN&nbsp;human rights spokesman Rupert Colville said &quot;These are shocking and shameful comments from the president of the United States. There is no other word one can use but &#39;racist.&#39;&quot;

The reported language was the latest in a long string of anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim comments by Trump that have been condemned as racist. He also blamed &quot;both sides&quot; after a white supremacist rally in August in Charlottesville, Virginia, turned violent and a woman protesting against the rally was killed.

Durbin said that despite Trump&#39;s rejection of the bipartisan deal he would introduce it as legislation next week and work on getting Democratic and Republican support for passage.

&ldquo;We have seven days and the clock is ticking. Our bipartisan group continues to build support for the only deal in town,&rdquo; Durbin said in a statement on Friday.

He was referring to January 19, when funds for operating federal agencies expires. Durbin and other lawmakers want the immigration measure to be attached to a must-do bill to fund the government beyond that date.

In recent days, a group of Republican and Democratic leaders from the House and Senate have met with the stated goal of crafting an alternative to the Senate bipartisan deal. But there was no indication that those four leaders were planning to meet over the long Martin Luther King Day federal holiday weekend or when they might produce legislation.

The Republican president's comments were decried as racist by African and Haitian politicians, by the United Nations human rights office and by US lawmakers from both major parties

Facing strong condemnation at home and abroad, US President Donald Trump on Friday denied using the word "shithole" to describe Haiti and African countries, but kept up criticism of a Senate immigration plan that he said would force the United States to admit people from countries that "are doing badly." Trump reportedly made the remarks at a White House meeting on immigration on Thursday. US Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, who attended the gathering, told reporters on Friday that Trump used "vile, vulgar" language, including repeatedly using the word "shithole" when speaking about African countries. The Republican president's comments were decried as racist by African and Haitian politicians, by the United Nations human rights office and by US lawmakers from both major parties. Trump, who has been accused of racism over several issues since he took office a year ago, sought to walk back the comments on Friday, saying on Twitter, "The language used by me at the DACA meeting was tough, but this was not the language used." Trump also denied saying "anything derogatory about Haitians other than Haiti is, obviously, a very poor and troubled country." Never said anything derogatory about Haitians other than Haiti is, obviously, a very poor and troubled country. Never said “take them out.” Made up by Dems. I have a wonderful relationship with Haitians. Probably should record future meetings - unfortunately, no trust! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2018 × According to two sources, at Thursday's meeting Trump questioned why the United States would want to accept immigrants from Haiti and African nations, referring to some as "shithole countries." While many Republican lawmakers stayed quiet on Trump's remarks, Paul Ryan, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, called them "unfortunate" and "unhelpful," noting in an interview on CNN that his family had emigrated to the United States from Ireland to help build the nation's railroads. At an event on Friday at the White House, Trump honoured the memory of Martin Luther King Jr, the civil-rights era activist who was slain in 1968. King's memory is marked with a national holiday, which falls this year on Monday. Trump stood beside Isaac Newton Farris, King's nephew, while a group of about 20 African-American supporters and members of his administration were on hand in the Roosevelt Room, including Ben Carson, his Housing and Urban Development secretary. He ignored reporters who shouted questions about his remarks. A group of Republican and Democratic senators has been working for months to craft legislation that would protect 700,000 young adults who were brought into the country illegally as children and later shielded from deportation under a program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA. In a series of tweets on Friday, Trump also suggested that momentum toward a deal on maintaining such protection had stalled. "The so-called bipartisan DACA deal presented yesterday to myself and a group of Republican Senators and Congressmen was a big step backwards," he said. The tentative deal also addresses border security, including a border wall, the diversity visa lottery and chain migration, in which US green-card holders can sponsor other family members for permanent residence in the country. Among other objections, Trump said the plan did not provide proper funding for the proposed wall that he made a centre-piece of his election campaign. He added the country "would be forced to take large numbers of people from high crime countries which are doing badly." Haiti said it was shocked by Trump's reported remarks on Thursday and summoned the top US diplomat in the country, asking for an apology if the vulgar term had been used. El Salvador's government sent the US a formal letter of protest that said the president had "implicitly" accepted the use of "harsh terms detrimental to the dignity of El Salvador and other countries." Botswana also said it had summoned the US ambassador to that country to "express its displeasure" and had asked him whether Botswana "is regarded as a 'shithole' country." Trump's comments are extremely offensive to South Africa, said Jessie Duarte, a senior official with the ruling African National Congress. "Ours is not a shithole country. Neither is Haiti or any other country in distress," she said. In Geneva, UN human rights spokesman Rupert Colville said "These are shocking and shameful comments from the president of the United States. There is no other word one can use but 'racist.'" The reported language was the latest in a long string of anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim comments by Trump that have been condemned as racist. He also blamed "both sides" after a white supremacist rally in August in Charlottesville, Virginia, turned violent and a woman protesting against the rally was killed. Durbin said that despite Trump's rejection of the bipartisan deal he would introduce it as legislation next week and work on getting Democratic and Republican support for passage. “We have seven days and the clock is ticking. Our bipartisan group continues to build support for the only deal in town,” Durbin said in a statement on Friday. He was referring to January 19, when funds for operating federal agencies expires. Durbin and other lawmakers want the immigration measure to be attached to a must-do bill to fund the government beyond that date. In recent days, a group of Republican and Democratic leaders from the House and Senate have met with the stated goal of crafting an alternative to the Senate bipartisan deal. But there was no indication that those four leaders were planning to meet over the long Martin Luther King Day federal holiday weekend or when they might produce legislation.

Trump denies vulgar remarks about Haiti, African countries; condemnation mounts

President Donald Trump on Thursday questioned why the United States would want to have immigrants from Haiti and African nations, referring to some as &quot;shithole countries&quot;.

&quot;Why do we want all these people from Africa here? They&#39;re shithole countries ... We should have more people from Norway&quot; he said. He further slammed the need for&nbsp;Haitians in the United States.

Trump&#39;s comments, made in the White House, came as Democratic Senator Dick Durbin and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham informed the president on a newly drafted immigration bill under works by a bipartisan group of senators.

The lawmakers were discussing how certain immigration programs work, including one to give safe haven in the United States to people from countries suffering from natural disasters and similar issues.

Many Democrats and some Republican lawmakers took to Twitter and lashed out at Trump.&nbsp;

Senator&nbsp;David Gergen said called Trump a bull carrying &quot;around his own china shop&quot;.

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Message from President of the US to foreigners: If you aren&#39;t white, you aren&#39;t welcome. A stream of stunning... <a href="https://t.co/DtIoRoLEo7">https://t.co/DtIoRoLEo7</a>
&mdash; David Gergen (@David_Gergen) <a href="https://twitter.com/David_Gergen/status/951608149089357825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Lawyer David Leopold said that &quot;With his #Shithole countries slur Trump has confirmed what those of us who work in #immigration law &amp; policy have known since early last year; the Administration&#39;s draconian #immigration enforcement crackdown is a racist policy aimed at immigrants of color.&quot;

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With his <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Shithole?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Shithole</a> countries slur Trump has confirmed what those of us who work in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/immigration?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#immigration</a> law &amp; policy have known since early last year; the Administration&#39;s draconian <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/immigration?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#immigration</a> enforcement crackdown is a racist policy aimed at immigrants of color.
&mdash; David Leopold (@DavidLeopold) <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidLeopold/status/951602973523791872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, a frequent Trump critic, also took to Twitter to express his thoughts.&nbsp;

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President Trump&rsquo;s remarks smack of blatant racism &ndash; odious and insidious racism masquerading poorly as immigration policy. He does not speak for me as an American.
&mdash; Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenBlumenthal/status/951602887829925888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Republican US&nbsp;Representative Mia Love, a daughter of Haitian immigrants, said the comments were &quot;unkind, divisive, elitist, and fly in the face of our nation`s values&quot; and called on Trump to apologise to the American people and to the countries he denigrated.

Another Republican Representative, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who was born in Cuba and whose south Florida district includes many Haitian immigrants, said: &quot;Language like that shouldn`t be heard in locker rooms and it shouldn`t be heard in the White House.&quot;

Trump had moved to end the status for immigrants from El Salvador, which could result in 200,000 Salvadorans legally in the United States being deported, and other countries.

The bipartisan Senate plan would attempt to maintain TPS in return for ending or changing a &quot;diversity&quot; lottery programme that has been aimed at allowing up to 50,000 people a year from countries with few emigres to the United States.&nbsp;

Asked about Trump&#39;s quips, White House spokesman Raj Shah said: &quot;Certain Washington politicians choose to fight for foreign countries, but President Trump will always fight for the American people.&quot;

&quot;Like other nations that have merit-based immigration, President Trump is fighting for permanent solutions that make our country stronger by welcoming those who can contribute to our society, grow our economy and assimilate into our great nation,&quot; Shah said.

Trump questioned why the United States should take in unskilled labourers from the countries under discussion and should instead welcome immigrants from nations that can offer skilled workers.

The source said Trump did not intend any slur.

&nbsp;

(With agency inputs)

Many Democrats and some Republican lawmakers took to Twitter and lashed out at Trump

President Donald Trump on Thursday questioned why the United States would want to have immigrants from Haiti and African nations, referring to some as "shithole countries". "Why do we want all these people from Africa here? They're shithole countries ... We should have more people from Norway" he said. He further slammed the need for Haitians in the United States. Trump's comments, made in the White House, came as Democratic Senator Dick Durbin and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham informed the president on a newly drafted immigration bill under works by a bipartisan group of senators. The lawmakers were discussing how certain immigration programs work, including one to give safe haven in the United States to people from countries suffering from natural disasters and similar issues. Many Democrats and some Republican lawmakers took to Twitter and lashed out at Trump. Senator David Gergen said called Trump a bull carrying "around his own china shop". Message from President of the US to foreigners: If you aren't white, you aren't welcome. A stream of stunning... https://t.co/DtIoRoLEo7 — David Gergen (@David_Gergen) January 12, 2018 × Lawyer David Leopold said that "With his #Shithole countries slur Trump has confirmed what those of us who work in #immigration law & policy have known since early last year; the Administration's draconian #immigration enforcement crackdown is a racist policy aimed at immigrants of color." With his #Shithole countries slur Trump has confirmed what those of us who work in #immigration law & policy have known since early last year; the Administration's draconian #immigration enforcement crackdown is a racist policy aimed at immigrants of color. — David Leopold (@DavidLeopold) January 11, 2018 × Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, a frequent Trump critic, also took to Twitter to express his thoughts. President Trump’s remarks smack of blatant racism – odious and insidious racism masquerading poorly as immigration policy. He does not speak for me as an American. — Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) January 11, 2018 × Republican US Representative Mia Love, a daughter of Haitian immigrants, said the comments were "unkind, divisive, elitist, and fly in the face of our nation`s values" and called on Trump to apologise to the American people and to the countries he denigrated. Another Republican Representative, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who was born in Cuba and whose south Florida district includes many Haitian immigrants, said: "Language like that shouldn`t be heard in locker rooms and it shouldn`t be heard in the White House." Trump had moved to end the status for immigrants from El Salvador, which could result in 200,000 Salvadorans legally in the United States being deported, and other countries. The bipartisan Senate plan would attempt to maintain TPS in return for ending or changing a "diversity" lottery programme that has been aimed at allowing up to 50,000 people a year from countries with few emigres to the United States. Asked about Trump's quips, White House spokesman Raj Shah said: "Certain Washington politicians choose to fight for foreign countries, but President Trump will always fight for the American people." "Like other nations that have merit-based immigration, President Trump is fighting for permanent solutions that make our country stronger by welcoming those who can contribute to our society, grow our economy and assimilate into our great nation," Shah said. Trump questioned why the United States should take in unskilled labourers from the countries under discussion and should instead welcome immigrants from nations that can offer skilled workers. The source said Trump did not intend any slur. (With agency inputs)

Lawmakers angry over Trump's expletive on immigrants

Haitian authorities said on Tuesday a former prime minister and top official have been banned from leaving the country as prosecutors lead a corruption probe in which 12 people, including government officials, have been arrested.

Former Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive, who served from 2009 to 2011, and former justice minister Camille Edouard Jr, who served in 2016, cannot travel abroad while an investigation proceeds into corruption-related charges, Haiti&#39;s prosecutor Clame-Ocnam Dameus said.

Bellerive, who was premier during a catastrophic earthquake, was ordered to remain within Haiti by a judge who is investigating the 2009 disappearance of a public procurement official and the 2012 death of a construction manager allegedly connected to the case.

Bellerive denied any connection to either incident, or to other acts of corruption.

&quot;I believe all this is part of a political lynching,&quot; he told Reuters. &quot;No one can show me where I&#39;ve enriched myself or acquired unjustified properties.&quot;

Corruption has plagued Haiti for generations and President Jovenel Moise has pledged to fight it as a way to improve the impoverished Caribbean country&#39;s social and economic development.

Dameus said Edouard could potentially face charges of money laundering as well as misappropriation of public funds and properties.

Edouard did not respond to a request for comment.

The dozen others arrested between November and December, a group comprised mostly of government officials, face corruption charges that include the misappropriation of public funds, Dameus said.

Corruption has plagued Haiti for generations and President Jovenel Moise has pledged to fight it as a way to improve the impoverished Caribbean country's social and economic development.

Haitian authorities said on Tuesday a former prime minister and top official have been banned from leaving the country as prosecutors lead a corruption probe in which 12 people, including government officials, have been arrested. Former Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive, who served from 2009 to 2011, and former justice minister Camille Edouard Jr, who served in 2016, cannot travel abroad while an investigation proceeds into corruption-related charges, Haiti's prosecutor Clame-Ocnam Dameus said. Bellerive, who was premier during a catastrophic earthquake, was ordered to remain within Haiti by a judge who is investigating the 2009 disappearance of a public procurement official and the 2012 death of a construction manager allegedly connected to the case. Bellerive denied any connection to either incident, or to other acts of corruption. "I believe all this is part of a political lynching," he told Reuters. "No one can show me where I've enriched myself or acquired unjustified properties." Corruption has plagued Haiti for generations and President Jovenel Moise has pledged to fight it as a way to improve the impoverished Caribbean country's social and economic development. Dameus said Edouard could potentially face charges of money laundering as well as misappropriation of public funds and properties. Edouard did not respond to a request for comment. The dozen others arrested between November and December, a group comprised mostly of government officials, face corruption charges that include the misappropriation of public funds, Dameus said.

Haiti's ex-prime minister banned from travel amid corruption probe

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/dalveer-bhandari-re-elected-icj-judge-britain-pulls-out-24693">Dalveer Bhandari re-elected ICJ judge, Britain pulls out</a>

Bhandari received 183-193 votes in the General Assembly and secured all the 15 votes in the Security Council after separate and simultaneous elections were held at the UN headquarters in New York.

&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/deepika-padukone-withdraws-from-global-entrepreneurship-summit-ges-amidst-padmavati-row-24692">Deepika Padukone withdraws from Global Entrepreneurship Summit amid &#39;Padmavati&#39; row</a>

US president&#39;s daughter Ivanka Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be attending the high-profile two-day event with entrepreneurs from across the world set to attend the event.

&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/declaring-north-korea-a-terrorist-state-should-have-happened-years-ago-trump-24695">Declaring North Korea a terrorist state should have happened years ago: Trump</a>

Trump said the sanctions as a result of designating North Korea a terrorist state would lead to &quot;very large&quot; US Treasury sanctions that would eventually amount to a &quot;maximum pressure campaign.&quot;

&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-to-end-provisional-residency-protection-of-59000-haitians-24696">Haitians directed to leave </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-to-end-provisional-residency-protection-of-59000-haitians-24696">US</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-to-end-provisional-residency-protection-of-59000-haitians-24696"> within 18 months</a>

Around 59,000 Haitians, living under the Temporary Residency Permit, have been asked to leave the United States within 18 months, the Trump administration announced.

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/gujarat-elections-congress-releases-second-list-of-candidates-24694">Gujarat elections: Congress releases </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/gujarat-elections-congress-releases-second-list-of-candidates-24694">second</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/gujarat-elections-congress-releases-second-list-of-candidates-24694"> list of candidates</a>

A day after Congress released the first list of candidates for the Gujarat assembly elections, the party on Monday came out with its second list.

Around 59,000 Haitians, living under the Temporary Residency Permit, have been asked to leave the United States within 18 months

Dalveer Bhandari re-elected ICJ judge, Britain pulls out Bhandari received 183-193 votes in the General Assembly and secured all the 15 votes in the Security Council after separate and simultaneous elections were held at the UN headquarters in New York. Deepika Padukone withdraws from Global Entrepreneurship Summit amid 'Padmavati' row US president's daughter Ivanka Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be attending the high-profile two-day event with entrepreneurs from across the world set to attend the event. Declaring North Korea a terrorist state should have happened years ago: Trump Trump said the sanctions as a result of designating North Korea a terrorist state would lead to "very large" US Treasury sanctions that would eventually amount to a "maximum pressure campaign." Haitians directed to leave US within 18 months Around 59,000 Haitians, living under the Temporary Residency Permit, have been asked to leave the United States within 18 months, the Trump administration announced. Gujarat elections: Congress releases second list of candidates A day after Congress released the first list of candidates for the Gujarat assembly elections, the party on Monday came out with its second list.

WION morning news brief, November 21, 2017

Around 59,000 Haitians, living under the Temporary Residency Permit, have been directed to leave the United States within 18 months, the Trump administration announced on Monday.&nbsp;

The decision was taken by the Homeland Security Department, after stating that the &#39;extraordinary conditions&#39; in Haiti have improved to a large extent, giving them until July 2019 to prepare their return, following the 2010 earthquake which leads severe damage in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, reported by The Washington Post.&nbsp;

The Haitian government officials had permitted the individuals to remain in the US due to the poor economic and political conditions and well as the widespread cholera epidemic. Moreover, damages caused by three hurricanes since 2016 exacerbate the difficulty of returning Haitians. 
&nbsp; 
However, Trump administration officials have stated that the permit was temporary and by no means a way for people to become long-term residents.&nbsp;

Last month, the United Nations closed a peacekeeping mission in Haiti which included over 10,000 troops. The new mission will consist of around 1,300 international officers and 350 civilians who will help reform the current conditions in the country, reports said.

The Homeland Security Department announced the decision 60 days before the current TPS expires. The agency, in May, had extended the program for just six months instead of eighteen and demanded Haitians to prepare to go home.&nbsp;

&ldquo;Haiti is not ready to take 58,000,&rdquo; said Marleine Bastien, a South Florida Haitian activist who had requested for at least an 18-month extension of TPS. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s going to be tough for the families in the US&nbsp;and a disaster for Haiti. It is clear that they are making decisions on the basis of politics and not&nbsp;considering the facts. This is purely unacceptable.&rdquo; as reported by Miami Herald.

Bill Nelson, a Democrat, said that the decisions were&nbsp;&#39;unacceptable&#39; and pushed the administration to rethink the decision. While members of Congress from South Florida acted in alarm.&nbsp;

The temporary status covers around 435,000 people from nine countries who fled to the US, legally or otherwise, after being hit by powerful natural disasters.&nbsp;

Since taking office, Trump has directed to end the temporary permit program for Sudan and Nicaragua and has also claimed to take a decision on 86,000 Honduras, living in the country, until July 2018.

Days after the Haiti earthquake, former President Barack Obama had granted an eighteen-month protection status for the citizens of Haiti and renewed it everytime it expired.

A senior official on Monday said that 18 months is a long time to allow families with US-born children to make decisions about their future.

Around 59,000 Haitians, living under the Temporary Residency Permit, have been directed to leave the United States within 18 months, the Trump administration announced on Monday. The decision was taken by the Homeland Security Department, after stating that the 'extraordinary conditions' in Haiti have improved to a large extent, giving them until July 2019 to prepare their return, following the 2010 earthquake which leads severe damage in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, reported by The Washington Post. The Haitian government officials had permitted the individuals to remain in the US due to the poor economic and political conditions and well as the widespread cholera epidemic. Moreover, damages caused by three hurricanes since 2016 exacerbate the difficulty of returning Haitians. However, Trump administration officials have stated that the permit was temporary and by no means a way for people to become long-term residents. Last month, the United Nations closed a peacekeeping mission in Haiti which included over 10,000 troops. The new mission will consist of around 1,300 international officers and 350 civilians who will help reform the current conditions in the country, reports said. The Homeland Security Department announced the decision 60 days before the current TPS expires. The agency, in May, had extended the program for just six months instead of eighteen and demanded Haitians to prepare to go home. “Haiti is not ready to take 58,000,” said Marleine Bastien, a South Florida Haitian activist who had requested for at least an 18-month extension of TPS. “It’s going to be tough for the families in the US and a disaster for Haiti. It is clear that they are making decisions on the basis of politics and not considering the facts. This is purely unacceptable.” as reported by Miami Herald. Bill Nelson, a Democrat, said that the decisions were 'unacceptable' and pushed the administration to rethink the decision. While members of Congress from South Florida acted in alarm. The temporary status covers around 435,000 people from nine countries who fled to the US, legally or otherwise, after being hit by powerful natural disasters. Since taking office, Trump has directed to end the temporary permit program for Sudan and Nicaragua and has also claimed to take a decision on 86,000 Honduras, living in the country, until July 2018. Days after the Haiti earthquake, former President Barack Obama had granted an eighteen-month protection status for the citizens of Haiti and renewed it everytime it expired.

Haitians directed to leave US within 18 months

Three weeks after the powerful Hurricane Matthew devastated southwestern Haiti, thousands of those displaced by the storm are living in &quot;inhumane&quot; conditions in government-run shelters, a United Nations expert said on Tuesday.&nbsp;

After a nine-day tour of Haiti, an independent UN human rights observer Gustavo Gallon described the difficult conditions the people were living in.&nbsp;

&quot;There is no food, no access to health services, no drinking water, and no clean installations and proper toilets,&quot; Gallon said shocked at the terrible state of the shelters.

&quot;These people are squeezed into 20 classrooms. They are hungry. There are two babies that were born there without help for delivery, and there are around 20 pregnant women there,&quot; he spoke about the Nord Alexis school, which is housing some 3,000 storm refugees, or 525 families, in the town of Jeremie.

Warning of the psychological effects of the trauma, Gallon recalled how a young woman told him &quot;we all became mentally ill.&quot;

&quot;The conditions in which these people find themselves in are inhumane and should be resolved immediately,&quot; he added.

The hurricane destroyed or heavily damaged more than 770 schools, and the schools that were unaffected have been taken over by thousands of displaced families.&nbsp;

Given the great stress suffered by storm refugees, many of whom lost everything, Gallon was perplexed by Haitian authorities&#39; orders to prepare to resume classes.

At least 546 people were killed, and more than 175,000 people were displaced in the storm that hit Haiti on October 4.

(WION with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Thousands of displaced are living in 'difficult and inhumane conditions' with no food or health services at the shelters, the observer told

Three weeks after the powerful Hurricane Matthew devastated southwestern Haiti, thousands of those displaced by the storm are living in "inhumane" conditions in government-run shelters, a United Nations expert said on Tuesday. After a nine-day tour of Haiti, an independent UN human rights observer Gustavo Gallon described the difficult conditions the people were living in. "There is no food, no access to health services, no drinking water, and no clean installations and proper toilets," Gallon said shocked at the terrible state of the shelters. "These people are squeezed into 20 classrooms. They are hungry. There are two babies that were born there without help for delivery, and there are around 20 pregnant women there," he spoke about the Nord Alexis school, which is housing some 3,000 storm refugees, or 525 families, in the town of Jeremie. Warning of the psychological effects of the trauma, Gallon recalled how a young woman told him "we all became mentally ill." "The conditions in which these people find themselves in are inhumane and should be resolved immediately," he added. The hurricane destroyed or heavily damaged more than 770 schools, and the schools that were unaffected have been taken over by thousands of displaced families. Given the great stress suffered by storm refugees, many of whom lost everything, Gallon was perplexed by Haitian authorities' orders to prepare to resume classes. At least 546 people were killed, and more than 175,000 people were displaced in the storm that hit Haiti on October 4. (WION with inputs from agencies)

UN expert describes 'inhumane' conditions at Haiti hurricane shelters

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon voiced distress on Saturday at the &quot;absolute devastation&quot; caused by a deadly hurricane in Haiti, and disappointment at scant emergency aid reaching the struggling nation.

&nbsp;

&quot;I am disappointed by the response of the international community. I sincerely hope and I urge the major donors to lend their helpful hand,&quot; Ban said at Port-au-Prince airport following a helicopter overflight of the hard-hit southern regions.

&nbsp;

Haiti is only just emerging from the devastating aftermath of a January 2010 earthquake that killed more than 200,000 people. The international aid that poured in at the time, poorly coordinated, became a major fiasco, with only a fraction of the funds reaching the victims of the catastrophe.

&nbsp;

&quot;I know there is some fatigue from certain countries, but the current situation, the current disaster that hit this country through Hurricane Matthew is beyond description,&quot; Ban said during a joint press conference with interim president Jocelerme Privert.

&nbsp;

At least 546 people were killed, and more than 175,000 people have lost their homes.

&nbsp;

Ban said Monday that a &quot;massive response&quot; was needed to cope with the destruction, with 1.4 million people in need of urgent assistance after towns and villages were almost wiped off the map.

&nbsp;

The United Nations has launched a flash appeal for $120 million to help Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, cope with its worst humanitarian crisis since a devastating 2010 earthquake.

&nbsp;

But so far, only about 12 per cent of the needed funds has been raised to help stave off famine and serious health crises, including cholera.

&nbsp;

&#39;Very, very sad&#39;&nbsp;

Privert, the interim leader, called for long-term support from allies.

&nbsp;

&quot;There will always be hurricanes, there will always be catastrophes. We need concrete actions to mitigate the damage from the next hurricanes that have not hit yet,&quot; Privert said.

&nbsp;

Earlier, Ban visited Les Cayes, one of the worst affected by Hurricane Matthew when it crashed ashore on October 4, packing winds of 145 miles (230 kilometers) per hour.

&nbsp;

&quot;I was very, very sad when we saw the complete devastation. But people the world over stand with you,&quot; the UN chief said, speaking in French.

&nbsp;

&quot;The United Nations stands by your side. We will mobilise all resources to help you.&quot;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The streets have been cleaned. The branches and tree trunks form massive heaps on the sidewalks. Businesses have reopened.

&nbsp;

Ban was warmly received at Philippe Guerrier high school, where more than 500 people are still huddled. He spoke with a young man who was wounded, before telling the displaced: &quot;kembe fem&quot; in Creole (&quot;hang in there&quot;).

&nbsp;

&quot;We have been told to leave because school has to start again, but we don&#39;t have anywhere to go,&quot; said Aivi Jean-Bar.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&quot;They bring us a bit to eat and drink, but that&#39;s not what we need. What we want to know is where we can go to sleep,&quot; the 36-year-old woman sheltering at the school with her four children told AFP.

(AFP)

Ban in his visit to Haiti slammed the international community for failing to provide any aid and urged people to donate

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon voiced distress on Saturday at the "absolute devastation" caused by a deadly hurricane in Haiti, and disappointment at scant emergency aid reaching the struggling nation. "I am disappointed by the response of the international community. I sincerely hope and I urge the major donors to lend their helpful hand," Ban said at Port-au-Prince airport following a helicopter overflight of the hard-hit southern regions. Haiti is only just emerging from the devastating aftermath of a January 2010 earthquake that killed more than 200,000 people. The international aid that poured in at the time, poorly coordinated, became a major fiasco, with only a fraction of the funds reaching the victims of the catastrophe. "I know there is some fatigue from certain countries, but the current situation, the current disaster that hit this country through Hurricane Matthew is beyond description," Ban said during a joint press conference with interim president Jocelerme Privert. At least 546 people were killed, and more than 175,000 people have lost their homes. Ban said Monday that a "massive response" was needed to cope with the destruction, with 1.4 million people in need of urgent assistance after towns and villages were almost wiped off the map. The United Nations has launched a flash appeal for $120 million to help Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, cope with its worst humanitarian crisis since a devastating 2010 earthquake. But so far, only about 12 per cent of the needed funds has been raised to help stave off famine and serious health crises, including cholera. 'Very, very sad' Privert, the interim leader, called for long-term support from allies. "There will always be hurricanes, there will always be catastrophes. We need concrete actions to mitigate the damage from the next hurricanes that have not hit yet," Privert said. Earlier, Ban visited Les Cayes, one of the worst affected by Hurricane Matthew when it crashed ashore on October 4, packing winds of 145 miles (230 kilometers) per hour. "I was very, very sad when we saw the complete devastation. But people the world over stand with you," the UN chief said, speaking in French. "The United Nations stands by your side. We will mobilise all resources to help you." The streets have been cleaned. The branches and tree trunks form massive heaps on the sidewalks. Businesses have reopened. Ban was warmly received at Philippe Guerrier high school, where more than 500 people are still huddled. He spoke with a young man who was wounded, before telling the displaced: "kembe fem" in Creole ("hang in there"). "We have been told to leave because school has to start again, but we don't have anywhere to go," said Aivi Jean-Bar. "They bring us a bit to eat and drink, but that's not what we need. What we want to know is where we can go to sleep," the 36-year-old woman sheltering at the school with her four children told AFP. (AFP)

UN chief urges against aid 'fatigue' in hurricane-hit Haiti

Trucks filled with aid are trundling through remote, hurricane-ravaged towns in Haiti - but the frustration of survivors like Dmitry Pierre is boiling over into deep anger and even violence as they watch them pass by without stopping.

Desperate people who have lost their houses and are living in rubble or in crowded shelters blocked streets on Tuesday to force convoys to stop and pay them attention.

Some have even taken to pelting aid trucks with rocks, furious that they have been ignored and at an apparent lack of coordination in distributing food and water.

&quot;They humiliated us, they take us for beasts, we don&#39;t know where we are going or what there will be in the future, everything is destroyed,&quot; said Pierre, living in a school that is now a squalid shelter as four aid organisation trucks drove past.

Hurricane Matthew has killed over 1,000 people in Haiti, tens of thousands have lost their homes and some 1.4 million are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

And that in an impoverished nation still struggling to get back on its feet after a devastating 2010 earthquake killed around 200,000 people and reduced many parts of Haiti to rubble.

Shouting residents blocked the path of a convoy near a United Nations base in the town of Jeremie in northwest Haiti with tree trunks on Tuesday, unwittingly stopping peacekeepers rather than aid workers.

Brazilian peacekeepers jumped out of their vehicles with batons and riot shields. They even sent a drone into the air to film, in case things turned nasty.&nbsp;

A 15-minute standoff ensued, across from two schools being used as shelters. Inside the school buildings, children ran around naked among elderly disabled hurricane survivors.&nbsp;

Some of those in the makeshift shelters said they had not eaten for five days.

&quot;We have been here a long time, we&#39;ve never received anything, every truck that passes by, they don&#39;t give us anything,&quot; said Jean-Eddy Charles, who said he organised the blockade.

&quot;Our houses are destroyed. There are 2,000 people in this school. We need food, water, we need tents. Our children are getting sick and are going to die of hunger,&quot; he added.

On a rocky, mountainous road between Jeremie and Les Cayes, Reuters came across a broken-down aid truck. Two armed Haitian police officers were defending it.

One of the officers said as many as eight aid trucks had been attacked on the road in the past few days.

&quot;For now it&#39;s dangerous here,&quot; said one of the policemen, declining to give his name. &quot;When the driver is alone in the truck, people come from everywhere and it is very dangerous. As long as we are here, they back off.&quot;

The truck&#39;s windscreen was shattered by a rock.

&quot;When I was driving a lot of people rushed toward me and threw rocks at the windscreen,&quot; said Wilfrace Dorval, the driver. &quot;They smashed the glass so I sped up because I was scared for my life.&quot;

Further down the road, young village boys who had taken it upon themselves to repair holes in mountain roads with rocks, chased after vehicles, imploring those inside to take pity on them and hand over a few scuffed gourdes, Haiti&#39;s currency.

 
 
&nbsp;

(Reuters)

People in parts of hurricane-hit Haiti blocked streets on Tuesday to stop aid convoys, some even resorted to pelting stones

Trucks filled with aid are trundling through remote, hurricane-ravaged towns in Haiti - but the frustration of survivors like Dmitry Pierre is boiling over into deep anger and even violence as they watch them pass by without stopping. Desperate people who have lost their houses and are living in rubble or in crowded shelters blocked streets on Tuesday to force convoys to stop and pay them attention. Some have even taken to pelting aid trucks with rocks, furious that they have been ignored and at an apparent lack of coordination in distributing food and water. "They humiliated us, they take us for beasts, we don't know where we are going or what there will be in the future, everything is destroyed," said Pierre, living in a school that is now a squalid shelter as four aid organisation trucks drove past. Hurricane Matthew has killed over 1,000 people in Haiti, tens of thousands have lost their homes and some 1.4 million are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. And that in an impoverished nation still struggling to get back on its feet after a devastating 2010 earthquake killed around 200,000 people and reduced many parts of Haiti to rubble. Shouting residents blocked the path of a convoy near a United Nations base in the town of Jeremie in northwest Haiti with tree trunks on Tuesday, unwittingly stopping peacekeepers rather than aid workers. Brazilian peacekeepers jumped out of their vehicles with batons and riot shields. They even sent a drone into the air to film, in case things turned nasty. A 15-minute standoff ensued, across from two schools being used as shelters. Inside the school buildings, children ran around naked among elderly disabled hurricane survivors. Some of those in the makeshift shelters said they had not eaten for five days. "We have been here a long time, we've never received anything, every truck that passes by, they don't give us anything," said Jean-Eddy Charles, who said he organised the blockade. "Our houses are destroyed. There are 2,000 people in this school. We need food, water, we need tents. Our children are getting sick and are going to die of hunger," he added. On a rocky, mountainous road between Jeremie and Les Cayes, Reuters came across a broken-down aid truck. Two armed Haitian police officers were defending it. One of the officers said as many as eight aid trucks had been attacked on the road in the past few days. "For now it's dangerous here," said one of the policemen, declining to give his name. "When the driver is alone in the truck, people come from everywhere and it is very dangerous. As long as we are here, they back off." The truck's windscreen was shattered by a rock. "When I was driving a lot of people rushed toward me and threw rocks at the windscreen," said Wilfrace Dorval, the driver. "They smashed the glass so I sped up because I was scared for my life." Further down the road, young village boys who had taken it upon themselves to repair holes in mountain roads with rocks, chased after vehicles, imploring those inside to take pity on them and hand over a few scuffed gourdes, Haiti's currency. (Reuters)

Haiti fumes as aid trucks leave many empty-handed

Haiti faces a humanitarian crisis that requires a &quot;massive response&quot; from the international community, with at least 1.4 million people needing emergency aid following last week&rsquo;s Hurricane Matthew, &nbsp;the United Nations chief said on Monday.

&quot;A massive response is required,&quot; UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told reporters.

&quot;Some towns and villages have been almost wiped off the map,&quot; he said.&nbsp;&quot;These numbers and needs are growing as more affected areas are reached.&quot;

The storm has left at least 372 dead in the impoverished Caribbean nation, with the toll likely to soar.

The United Nations has launched a $120 million flash appeal to cover the needs in Haiti for the next three months, AFP reported.

After battering Haiti on October 4 as a Category 4 storm, that packed winds of 145 miles (230 kilometers) per hour, Matthew slammed into the southeastern United States and killed 20.

In Haiti, more than 300 schools have been damaged, while crops and food reserves have been destroyed, Ban said.

UN aid chief Stephen O&rsquo;Brien said the hurricane had triggered the worst humanitarian crisis in Haiti since the 2010 earthquake, AFP reported.

The department of Grande Anse in Haiti&rsquo;s southwest saw the most devastation with 198 dead, 97 injured and nearly 99,400 people staying in temporary shelters.

More than 175,500 are in shelters elsewhere in the country, AFP said.&nbsp;Deliveries of supplies were slowed by cut roads and communications.

&quot;I understand of course the frustration,&quot; Jean-Luc Poncelet, the country representative for the UN&rsquo;s World Health Organisation told AFP. &ldquo;the storm&rsquo;s impact in the south and west of the Tiburon Peninsula has been &quot;really catastrophic.&quot;

&quot;When you have no means of communication, no radio, no telephone, no roads and even a helicopter can&rsquo;t land -- this is what explains the massive delay,&quot; he told AFP.

(WION with inputs from AFP)

The UN has launched a $120 million flash appeal to cover Haiti's needs for the next three months

Haiti faces a humanitarian crisis that requires a "massive response" from the international community, with at least 1.4 million people needing emergency aid following last week’s Hurricane Matthew, the United Nations chief said on Monday. "A massive response is required," UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told reporters. "Some towns and villages have been almost wiped off the map," he said. "These numbers and needs are growing as more affected areas are reached." The storm has left at least 372 dead in the impoverished Caribbean nation, with the toll likely to soar. The United Nations has launched a $120 million flash appeal to cover the needs in Haiti for the next three months, AFP reported. After battering Haiti on October 4 as a Category 4 storm, that packed winds of 145 miles (230 kilometers) per hour, Matthew slammed into the southeastern United States and killed 20. In Haiti, more than 300 schools have been damaged, while crops and food reserves have been destroyed, Ban said. UN aid chief Stephen O’Brien said the hurricane had triggered the worst humanitarian crisis in Haiti since the 2010 earthquake, AFP reported. The department of Grande Anse in Haiti’s southwest saw the most devastation with 198 dead, 97 injured and nearly 99,400 people staying in temporary shelters. More than 175,500 are in shelters elsewhere in the country, AFP said. Deliveries of supplies were slowed by cut roads and communications. "I understand of course the frustration," Jean-Luc Poncelet, the country representative for the UN’s World Health Organisation told AFP. “the storm’s impact in the south and west of the Tiburon Peninsula has been "really catastrophic." "When you have no means of communication, no radio, no telephone, no roads and even a helicopter can’t land -- this is what explains the massive delay," he told AFP. (WION with inputs from AFP)

1.4 million in need of aid in hurricane battered Haiti: UN

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