Government of Haiti a state of emergency and curfew declared on Sunday for a renewable 72-hour period in the Ouest department, where Port-au-Prince is located, due to “deteriorating security” and attacks the previous day on two prisons by armed gangs.

In its statement, the executive branch indicates that in order to “restore order and take appropriate measures to regain control of the situation”curfew is in effect tonight until 5:00 am, and next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 6:00 pm to 5:00 am.

This measure does not affect government personnel on duty, firefighters, ambulance drivers, medical personnel and duly identified journalists.

“Law enforcement agencies have received a mandate to use all legal means at your disposal so that the ceasefire is respected and the violators are arrested,” added the note signed by Patrick Michel Boivvert, who is acting Prime Minister in the absence of Ariel Henry.

The measure was taken in the Ouest department due to deteriorating security, especially in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, “characterized by increasingly violent criminal activities carried out by armed gangs, causing massive population movements.” and consistent in everything kidnapping and killing of civiliansviolence against women and children, robbery and theft of public and private property.”

In its text the government refers to attacks on the country’s two largest prisonsLa Capitale and Croix des Bouquets “caused deaths and injuries among police and prison officers, escapes of dangerous prisoners and acts of vandalism in these places,” actions that “endangered national security,” the text adds.

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Happened since last Thursday unprecedented violence in Haiti marked by an increase in clashes between police and armed gangs, increased shootings in neighborhoods and an increase in the number of deaths and injuries.

(EFE)