The Je Klere Foundation and the Platform of Haitian Human Rights Organizations on Friday strongly condemned the assassination of 29 civilians in Bas Artibonite, as a result of the wave of violence in Haiti.

Port-au-Prince.- In addition, dozens of houses were looted and burned down by armed groups in Liancourt, Savien, and Petite Riviere de Artibonite.

"More than 70% of the population in Liancourt has been forced to leave their homes and take refuge in other neighboring municipalities, thus increasing the already considerable number of internally-displaced people across the country, who receive no help from the Government," the human rights organizations stressed while reporting that traders must pay between $500 and $1,000 to the police so that an armored tank can facilitate their crossing to Liancourt.

Gang violence also forced local businesses to close, while local radio station Radio Antarctique was the target of an arson attack.

The Je Klere Foundation condemned the government's inaction, which "has announced no protection plan for the displaced, no re-housing plan and no security measures to keep the gangs at bay and facilitate the return of the displaced to their homes." (PL)