Abinader pledges “drastic response” to Haitian escaped prisoners entering the DR

Santo Domingo.- President Luis Abinader has declared that his government will provide a “drastic response” if individuals involved in the attacks on two prisons in Haiti appear within the national territory. The attacks, carried out by armed gangs on La Capitale and Croix des Bouquets prisons, the largest in the country, resulted in the escape of approximately 3,600 prisoners.

Abinader, who has previously advocated for urgent international intervention in Haiti, reiterated his concerns about the deteriorating situation in the neighboring nation. He emphasized that his government had been preparing for such a scenario for the past three weeks.

In response to the crisis, the Haitian government has imposed a three-day state of emergency and a curfew in the western department from 6:00 PM to 5:00 AM local time, effective from Monday to Wednesday.

With the release of notorious gang leaders and criminals known for their brutality, there is a heightened anticipation of increased insecurity in the coming days. These individuals were incarcerated in the Port-au-Prince civil prison for crimes such as kidnapping, robbery, rape, and murder.

Over the past week, Haiti has witnessed a surge in violence characterized by clashes between the police and armed gangs, intensified shootings in neighborhoods, and a rise in the number of casualties and injuries.