234 dead, thousands trapped without food, water or fuel; Haiti descends into chaos and anarchy

Brutal gang violence, fuel shortages and soaring food commodity prices have brought the capital city of Port-au-Prince in Haiti to a halt. According to United Nations estimates, approximately 234 people have lost their lives or got hurt in the violence, with new reports of sexual violence also coming to light.

According to deputy mayor Jean Hislain Frederick, the violence erupted in the Cite Soleil neighbourhood of the city last week (Thursday) when two rival gangs engaged in a bloody battle amongst themselves. Soon, the violence spread around and the entire city was in flames in no time.

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The United Nations Security Council is discussing whether to extend or to end its mandate over Haiti. The vote was delayed as requested by China, a permanent member of the Security Council. Far from being a benign peacekeeper, the U.N. only adds to Haiti's woes.

Dahoud Andre is a member of KOMOKODA, the Committee to Mobilize Against Dictatorship in Haiti. He’s also the host of Eritye Papa Desalin, a daily Haitian community radio program and the Host of Haiti: Our Revolution Continues, which can be heard on WBAI. He joins us from Brooklyn, New York to discuss the implications of the pending United Nations decision.

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