Daily gunfire plagues Ouanaminthe as stray bullets hit residents inside their homes

OUANAMINTHE— In the border town separating Haiti from the Dominican Republic, an uptick in gang violence has left residents living in fear, with stray bullets injuring people in their homes. 

Édiane Francisque, 34, was hit in the shoulder while taking an open-air bath near her home not too far from a police station on July 25, 2024. 

This tragic event, impacting Francisque’s family—already grieving the loss of her sister—deeply shook the community.

 “I was in the shower when I felt something hit my left shoulder blade,” she recalled. “It was a bullet.”

Francisque, a bank teller in the town, is among dozens affected by gun violence in Ouanaminthe—a northeastern city. Many residents, including women and children, have been injured by stray bullets hitting their homes regularly. Residents describe a city besieged by gunfire, with bullets flying through densely populated neighborhoods.

“Around my house, bullets are fired every day, as if this was the place where bullets are made,” said Herlande Joseph, a resident of the Calvera neighborhood.

For over a year, the streets of Ouanaminthe have been shaken by gunfire, exacerbated by the influx of illegal weapons. Victims recount harrowing experiences and the lasting effects of their injuries. 

Residents struggle with wounds amid financial hardship

Wilson François, for instance, was struck in the face by a stray bullet in early 2024. His face remains scarred, and the bullet, still lodged in his jaw causes constant pain. 

“As I was lying in bed, something hit me in the face. When I saw blood, I realized I’d been shot,” said François. 

Financial constraints have left François unable to afford the surgery needed to remove the bullet, forcing him to live with the injury. In his case, surgery in the Dominican Republic would cost about US$20,338.

Eight-year-old Demidson Augustin is among several children, also victims of gunfire. Shot in the neck, he continues to experience pain and struggles with daily tasks, especially at school. 

“Every movement reminds him of what he’s been through,” said his mother, Chénane Pierre, who explained that their financial situation prevents them from seeking treatment outside Haiti.

Aware of her son’s concerns, his mother hides the truth about the family’s economic difficulties in arranging the operation to remove the bullet from his neck.

“We do not have the financial means to go to Cuba to extract the bullet, which is crucial for his education,” Chénane said. “After several attempts at local hospitals, they finally referred us to Cuba for a surgery they are not able to perform.”

This situation significantly impacts the child’s life and academic performance. Before the incident, he had an average 7.81 GPA in the first quarter of the school year. However, after being hospitalized for 21 days and enduring ongoing pain, his mother said he has had to repeat his grade.

The situation in Ouanaminthe reflects a broader security crisis in Haiti’s northeast, worsened by political instability, deportations of immigrants from the neighboring Dominican Republic, and the migration of gangs fleeing intensified police operations in the metropolitan areas of Port-au-Prince and Artibonite. 

At night, the sound of gunfire echoes through once-peaceful streets, and residents say they feel unsafe even in their homes. 

“As I was lying in bed, something hit me in the face. When I saw blood, I realized I’d been shot.”

Wilson François, victim of a gunshot in Ouanaminthe

“There are gunshots every night,” said Néhémie Joseph, 29, a vendor of beauty products. 

Another resident, Stanley Joazard, 30, described bullets as an ever-present danger inside Ouanaminthe.

Law enforcement authorities promise to take action

Local authorities acknowledge the gravity of the situation and have pledged to intensify patrols. Ouanaminthe Police Commissioner Ronald Eugene stated that patrols will focus on both illegal possession of weapons and preventing misuse of legally owned firearms. 

“We are not the only armed force here,” said Eugene. “The police will continue to patrol the city, arresting those with unauthorized firearms to help bring security back to Ouanaminthe,” the commissioner of the Haitian National Police (PNH) in the city told The Haitian Times on Friday.

Meanwhile, the mayor of Ouanaminthe, Démétrius Luma, points to the porous border with the Dominican Republic as a major avenue for the trafficking of illegal arms. 

“Criminal networks exploit the border, smuggling weapons into Haiti with little oversight,” Luma said. 

He explained that the influx of firearms, paired with limited resources, complicates efforts to regain control over the region’s security.

With over 10 reported victims, including women and young children, the situation requires urgent intervention to safeguard residents. They flock to local radio stations and post various messages on social media platforms to demand immediate government action to protect Ouanamintheans and address the root causes of the escalating violence.

“The people of Ouanaminthe, known for their resilience, are facing an unprecedented challenge,” said one local activist who requested anonymity due to safety concerns. As residents demand an end to the violence it’s clear authorities and civil society groups must work together to restore peace and security to this besieged border town.

The post Daily gunfire plagues Ouanaminthe as stray bullets hit residents inside their homes appeared first on The Haitian Times.

---

Daily gunfire plagues Ouanaminthe as stray bullets hit residents inside their homes was first posted on November 11, 2024 at 10:04 am.