HAITI: Violence breaks out as World Food Programme begins distributing food in volatile Haitian neighbourhood of Cite Soleil

Record ID: 692105

  • Title: HAITI: Violence breaks out as World Food Programme begins distributing food in volatile Haitian neighbourhood of Cite Soleil
  • Date: 15th November 2005
  • Summary: MAN WITH CRUTCH AND MAN WITH BELT BEATING BACK THE CROWD
  • Embargoed: 30th November 2005 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Haiti
  • Country: Haiti
  • Topics: Social Services / Welfare
  • Reuters ID: LVADOYK78D0Y6Z3649CZOYJVNPV4
  • Story Text: The United Nation's World Food Program teamed up with Haitian-born hip-hop singer Wyclef Jean's non-governmental organization, "Yele Haiti", to distribute food in Port-au-Prince's most volatile slum of Cite Soleil on Monday (November 14).
    "What is happening today is setting up a precedent and opening the doors for all U.N. agencies, all NGOs to go into these areas and bring assistance. People in peaceful areas in this country as well as people in difficult areas have the same right - which is to get assistance when they need it," said the country director for the World Food Program, Mamadou Mbaye.
    After meetings with local authorities, the two groups drove two trucks of food into the area where local residents unloaded the food for distribution to the poor people of the area.
    Once all the food was unloaded, scuffles broke out. Several men acting as security wielded sticks and belts to beat back people rushing for the food.
    Elderly women and children, too weak to compete with the mass of young men, scrounged and scuffled over loose beans.
    The food consisted of eight-hundred bags, each with enough to feed a family of five for two weeks. Each bag contained 1.25 kg of rice, 1.5kg of beans, 1.2 litre of vegetable oil and a small satchel of salt.
    Despite the chaos, organizers said they were pleased with the outcome saying that this desperation should be proof of how much the people of these areas need help.
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