Latest news with #AntónioGuterres'
Indian Express
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
25% rise in violence against children in conflict zones in 2024; Gaza tops list: UN report
Violence against children trapped in armed conflicts reached 'unprecedented levels' in 2024, with a staggering 25% surge in grave violations compared to the previous year, according to a United Nations report released Thursday. UN Secretary-General António Guterres' annual report on Children in Armed Conflict points towards escalating brutality in conflict zones. 'Children bore the brunt of relentless hostilities and indiscriminate attacks,' Guterres said, citing the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the systematic exploitation of children for combat roles. The report confirmed 41,370 grave violations against minors — 36,221 committed in 2024 and 5,149 from earlier years that were verified during the year. These violations include killing, maiming, child recruitment, abduction, sexual violence, attacks on schools and hospitals, and denial of humanitarian aid. The occupied Palestinian territories saw the highest number of verified violations. The UN attributed 7,188 grave violations to Israeli forces, including the killing of 1,259 Palestinian children and injuries to 941 others in Gaza. 'I am appalled by the intensity of grave violations against children in the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel,' Guterres said, urging Israel to respect international humanitarian law and protect civilians. Amid calls for accountability, the UN kept Israeli forces on its blacklist for a second consecutive year. Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, responsible for the October 7, 2023, attacks that triggered the current conflict, also remained on the list, reported AP. Aside from Gaza, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Nigeria, and Haiti were among the worst-hit regions: The UN also continued to list Russian forces and affiliated armed groups for grave violations in Ukraine. Guterres expressed alarm at 1,914 violations affecting 673 Ukrainian children in 2024, including the killing of 94 children, injury to 577, and attacks on 559 schools and 303 hospitals. Virginia Gamba, the UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict said: 'The cries of 22,495 innocent children who should be learning to read or play ball — but instead have been forced to learn how to survive gunfire and bombings — should keep all of us awake at night.' (With inputs from AP)
National News
29-04-2025
- Politics
- National News
UN Secretary-General's remarks to the Security Council - on the Middle East
NNA – Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres' remarks to Security Council quarterly open debate on the Middle East, including the Palestinian question: "Mr. President, Excellencies, I thank the French presidency for convening this ministerial-level meeting on the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. The region is undergoing fundamental shifts, marked by violence and volatility but also opportunity and potential. In Lebanon, the ceasefire and territorial integrity must be respected and all commitments implemented. In Syria, we must keep working to support the country's path towards a political transition that is inclusive of all segments of the Syrian population – one that ensures accountability, fosters national healing, and lays the foundation for Syria's long-term recovery and further integration into the international community. This includes the situation in the occupied Syrian Golan -- which remains precarious with significant violations of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement, with the continued presence of the Israel Defense Forces into the area of separationand their several strikes targeting locations across the ceasefire line. Across the Middle East, people demand and deserve a better future, not endless conflict and suffering. We must collectively work to ensure that this turbulent and transitional period meets those aspirations -- and delivers justice, dignity, rights, security and lasting peace. It starts by recognizing two fundamental facts: First, that the region is at a hinge-point in history. And, second, that truly sustainable Middle East peace hinges on one central question. On a core issue that this Security Council has affirmed and re-affirmed decade after decade, year after year: a two-state solution, Israel and Palestine, living side-by-side in peace and security, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states. Mr. President, Today, the promise of a two-State solution is at risk of dwindling to the point of disappearance. The political commitment to this long-standing goal is farther than it has ever been. As a result, the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians to live and peace and security have been undermined – and the legitimate national aspirations of the Palestinians have been denied – while they endure Israel's continued presence that the International Court of Justice has found unlawful. And since the horrific 7 October terror attacks by Hamas, it has gotten worse on every front. First, the unrelenting conflict and devastation in Gaza – including the utterly inhumane conditions of life imposed on its people who are repeatedly coming under attack, confined to smaller and smaller spaces, and deprived of lifesaving relief. In line with international law, the Security Council has rejectedany attempt at demographic or territorial change in the Gaza Strip, including any actions that reduce its territory. Gaza is -- and must remain -- an integral part of a future Palestinian state. Second, in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Israeli military operations and the use of heavy weaponry in residential areas, forcible displacement, demolitions, movement restrictions, and settlement expansion are dramatically alteringdemographic and geographic realities. Palestinians are being contained and coerced. Contained in areas that are subject to increasing military operations and where the Palestinian Authority is under growing pressure – and coerced out of areas where settlements are expanding. Third, settler violence continues at alarmingly high levels in a climate of impunity, with entire Palestinian communities facing repeated assaults and destruction, sometimes abetted by Israeli soldiers. Palestinian attacks against Israelis in both Israel and the occupied West Bank also continue. Mr. President, The world cannot afford to watch the two-State solution disappear. Political leaders face clear choices -- the choice to be silent, the choice to acquiesce, or the choice to act. Mr. President, In Gaza, there is no end in sight to the killing and misery. The ceasefire had brought a glimmer of hope – the long-sought release of hostages and delivery of lifesaving humanitarian relief. But those embers of opportunity were cruelly extinguished with the shattering of the ceasefire on 18 March. Since then, almost 2,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza by Israeli strikes and military operations – including women, children, journalists, and humanitarians. Hamas also continues to fire rockets towards Israel indiscriminately – while the hostages continue to be held in appalling conditions. The humanitarian situation throughout the Gaza Strip has gone from bad … to worse … to beyond imagination. For nearly two full months, Israel has blocked food, fuel, medicine and commercial supplies, depriving more than two million people of lifesaving relief. All while the world watches. I am alarmed by statements by Israeli government officials about the use of humanitarian aid as a tool for military pressure. Aid is non-negotiable. Israel must protect civilians and must agree to relief schemes and facilitate them. I salute the women and men of the United Nations and all other humanitarian workers – especially our Palestinian colleagues -- who continue to work under fire and in incomprehensibly difficult conditions. And I mourn all of the women and men of the United Nations who were killed – including some with their families. The entry of assistance must be restored immediately -- the safety of UN personnel and humanitarian partners must be guaranteed – and UN agencies must be allowed to work in full respect of humanitarian principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence. There must be no hindrance in humanitarian aid – including through the vital work of UNRWA. We need the immediate and unconditional release of allhostages. And we need a permanent ceasefire. It's time to stop the repeated displacement of the Gaza population – along with any question of forced displacementoutside of Gaza. And the trampling of international law must end. I call on Member States to use their leverage to ensure that international law is respected and impunity does not prevail. This includes for the 19 March incident for which Israel has now acknowledged responsibility in firing on a UN guesthouse, killing one colleague and injuring six others … the 23 March killing of paramedics and other rescue workers in Rafah … as well as many other cases. There must be accountability across the board. Mr. President, Advisory proceedings are ongoing at the International Court of Justice on the obligations of Israel, as an occupying Power and a Member of the United Nations, in relation to the presence and activities of the United Nations in and in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory. In February, the United Nations Legal Counsel submitted a written statement to the Court – and yesterday, she made an oral statement before the Court – both of which on my behalf. The statement to the Court includes points that I have made on a number of occasions. Specifically, that all parties to conflict must comply with all their obligations under international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law. That Israel, as an occupying Power, is under an obligation to ensure food and medical supplies of the population. That Israel has an obligation to agree to and facilitate relief schemes in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. That humanitarian, medical and United Nations personnel must be respected and protected. And I emphasize the obligation under international law to respect the privileges and immunities of the United Nations and its personnel, including the absolute inviolability of United Nations premises, property and assets – and the immunity from legal process of the United Nations. Such immunity applies to all UN entities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory – including UNRWA – a subsidiary organ of the General Assembly. I call on Member States to fully support all of these efforts. Mr. President, In this period of turmoil and transition for the region, Member States must spell out how they will realize the commitment and promise of a two-State solution. This is not a time for ritualistically expressing support, ticking a box, and moving on. We are past the stage of ticking boxes – the clock is ticking. The two-State solution is near a point of no return. The international community has a responsibility to prevent perpetual occupation and violence. My call to Member States is clear and urgent: Take irreversible action towards implementing a two-State solution. Do not let extremists on any side undermine what remains of the peace process. The High-Level Conference in June, co-chaired by France and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is an important opportunity torevitalize international support. I encourage Member States to go beyond affirmations, and to think creatively about the concrete steps they will take to support a viable two-State solution before it is too late. At the same time, the Palestinian Authority needs stepped-up and sustained support – politically and financially. This is crucial to ensure the continued viability of Palestinian institutions, consolidate ongoing reforms, and enable the PA to resume its full responsibilities in Gaza. Mr. President, At this hinge point of history for the people of the Middle East – and on this issue on which so much hinges – leaders must stand and deliver. Show the political courage and exercise the political will to make good on this central question for peace for Palestinians, Israelis, the region and humanity. Thank you." ------------------
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Awami League comments on UN Secretary General António Guterres' visit to Bangladesh
Demands the UN's Human Rights agency investigates ongoing human rights violations Plea comes as lawlessless takes hold in Bangladesh, with revenge violence and attacks on minorities and women's rights going unpunished by Muhammad Yunus's unelected government Deep concern also expressed for Rohingya refugees, to whom deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina provided shelter DHAKA, Bangladesh, March 13, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Awami League issues the following statement related to UN Secretary General António Guterres' visit to Bangladesh: UN Secretary-General António Guterres' visit to Bangladesh this week is a critical reminder of the importance of protecting those persecuted because of their religion, ethnicity or political affiliation. Yet, almost eight years since Sheikh Hasina's Awami League government opened its doors to welcome over 700,000 Rohingya refugees fleeing brutal oppression in Myanmar, persecution persists in Bangladesh. This is not just against the Rohingyas – who have seen their food rations halved just this week by the UN's World Food Program – but against Hindus, Christians, indigenous peoples living in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, women and girls, lawyers and journalists. As the UN Secretary-General visits Bangladesh for the first time since the Interim Government assumed power, Mr Guterres must observe for himself the vital need for a further and truly impartial investigation into the oppression and disorder that has been allowed to take root under Dr Muhammad Yunus' tenure since August 5. In its recent report from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the UN painted a one-side and incomplete picture of a country in turmoil. A country where revenge violence has been allowed to proliferate with total impunity, where victims of violent crimes are deprived of their right to seek justice, where religious and ethnic minorities live in fear, and where the principles of press freedom and fair trial have been eroded. Bangladesh today has descended into lawlessness. Violence, disorder and state-tolerated destruction abound, while the authorities and security forces turn a blind eye, focusing instead on their ideological pursuit of any democratically dissenting voices they have characterised as 'devils'. The UN acknowledges for itself a critical flaw in the timeframe of its initial investigation, which is woefully confined to the events leading up to August 15. Today, the Awami League calls once again for a new and fully independent investigation of the violence, persecution and mob rule that have become established since August 5 to help address the urgent concerns of the Bangladeshi people, whose lives continue to be blighted by waves of crime. Bangladesh cannot hope to return to its previously prosperous path and be considered a true multi-party democracy while its current government authorises the killing and unlawful detention of supporters of the Awami League and seeks to downplay the violent attacks that have targeted religious and ethnic minorities. Mr Guterres must use this visit to hold the Yunus administration to account for the human rights abuses it has facilitated and ensure his offices conduct a fair examination of all the evidence before them, unclouded by partisan political beliefs. Accordingly, the Awami League also calls upon the Secretary General to establish a permanent OHCHR mission in Bangladesh, tasked with investigating present-day and ongoing abuses. The Awami League is also deeply concerned by indications from the U.N World Food Programme that it intends to cut by more than half the value of food vouchers given to Rohingya refugees to just US$6 per person per month from April 1. Notwithstanding funding cuts to U.N budgets, this would be a completely unacceptable decision: a betrayal of some of the world's neediest and most victimized people, and a betrayal too of Bangladesh's persistent efforts to help them. Mr Guterres must demonstrate good faith to Bangladesh. He must take the opportunity provided by his visit to Dhaka to reassure the country's people that U.N. agencies will fight for their most urgent interests, and provide adequate resources to support the humanitarian needs of Rohingya refugees. View source version on Contacts Media enquiries: info@ Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Why work is (still) not working for women
Editor's Note: This story is part of 'The Great Illusion,' a series by CNN's As Equals all about work: investigating which industries are most harmful for women workers, revealing the true cost of care work, and exploring how it can all be fixed. For information about how CNN As Equals is funded and more, check out our FAQs. Unpaid work. Sexual harassment. Violence. Low wages. The 'motherhood penalty.' These are just some of the issues that millions of women continue to face at work in 2025. Despite progress made towards global gender equality, men continue to hold the highest paid positions in industries worldwide, while many women still typically handle grunt work across companies and supply chains. Meanwhile, many women around the world are still struggling to find work, with many holding precarious jobs or forced to hustle in the informal economy just to get by. Overall, women continue to carry a disproportionate share of unpaid care and domestic work, underlining United Nations Secretary General António Guterres' comments that global poverty 'has a female face.' 'If the quantity and quality of employment are failing women, the impact is higher poverty risk,' said Sally Roever, formerly the international coordinator at Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO), a global network that aims to improve working conditions for women in the informal economy. Labor experts say that the working world excludes, underpays, overlooks and exploits around half of its available force – and as such, work systems - in their current structures - are failing women. The International Labor Organization (ILO) defines work as 'any activity performed by persons of any sex and age to produce goods or to provide services for use by others or for own use.' But 'most economies just don't create enough jobs,' Roever told CNN, adding that gender norms often dictate which jobs are available or accessible to women, and as such, women are often forced to 'invent their own income-generating activities.' Globally, the most common form of work is informal and unregulated, according to the ILO, who estimates nearly 60% of all workers are involved in this type of work, most of whom are women in the Global South. Although work in the informal economy is most prevalent in developing economies, it is also an important part of advanced economies, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Informal work takes many different forms globally and includes jobs such as street sellers, unregistered taxi drivers, domestic workers and day laborers. For women working in the formal economy, they often don't hold the same legal rights as men, according to a 2024 World Bank report. More than 90 countries do not have laws mandating equal pay for equal work, while dozens of others prohibit women from working in certain industries, such as construction or manufacturing. Some countries prohibit women from working jobs deemed 'too dangerous,' and others ban women from working at night. In the formal sector, women typically hold lower-paying roles and are only likely to hold leadership positions in occupations 'traditionally viewed as female-centric,' according to the ILO. For example, women make up 67% of the global health and social care workforce - providing essential health services for an estimated five billion people worldwide - yet men are estimated to hold 75% of leadership roles in the sector, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Women are, in a way, 'always stuck at the floor,' said Emanuela Pozzan, a senior gender equality and non-discrimination specialist at the ILO told CNN. This, in turn, limits 'the diversity of perspectives in decision-making processes,' she said, which then hinders progress in society and organizations. Women working in the informal economy are over-represented in the most vulnerable types of employment, including domestic work, food production and agriculture, according to the ILO. Unpaid care work is a barrier to women actively engaging in the labor market, leaving women marginalized, and without any social protections or income stability in many parts of the world, experts say. In 2023, around 708 million women worldwide were unable to enter the labor force because of unpaid care responsibilities, according to the most recent ILO global estimates, who said the data 'confirm that care responsibilities continue to be the main reason women are not looking or not available for employment.' Domestic work was 'always regarded as something that women just do, because it's 'their role,'' Adriana Paz, secretary general of the International Domestic Workers' Federation (IDWF), an organization representing domestic workers worldwide, told CNN. And even when domestic work is paid, safety risks are often not accounted for, she said. For example, domestic work is mostly carried out in homes, which are not commonly considered a workplace. Paz said this means occupational health and safety standards are rarely in place to protect people - mostly women - who are paid to do that work. While unpaid care work isn't counted in traditional economic measures, it is vital to economic activity, Pozzan of the ILO added, noting that care work allows others participate in the workforce. 'You cannot have paid work unless you have unpaid care work,' she said. While all workers face some risk and vulnerabilities on the job, women face them in greater numbers, particularly those working in the informal economy across the Global South. This is partly because of the nature of the jobs they do. For example, domestic and factory workers risk exposure to toxic chemicals, industrial workers face extreme pain and farm workers risk prolonged sun exposure. And many women in the agricultural industry - who make up most rural smallholder farmers worldwide - are often not recognized formally as farmers in many countries, leaving them without any rights to the land they work. Across nearly every sector, gender-based violence and sexual harassment at work continues to persist as patriarchal societies have normalized gender-based violence, according to the experts. That violence has a knock-on effect on the overall economy. In Cambodia, a 2017 study by the humanitarian agency CARE said that almost one in three women garment factory workers reported they had been sexually harassed, lowering productivity and seeing many women leave the job – costing employers an estimated $89 million annually. Meanwhile, women are facing risks to the future of work, with big tech and the climate emergency two of the most prominent disruptors. Women's jobs are more at risk of being lost to AI as women typically hold low-skill positions requiring less education and formal qualifications that are more likely to be replaced by automation. Climate change is also disrupting work and affects women differently than men. During an extreme weather event, which is often exacerbated by human-made climate change, women are usually the ones to shoulder a larger burden when it comes to running the household, making cooking, cleaning, gathering resources and childcare more challenging and time consuming. Women are also working longer than men as they typically have less access to state and social benefits – including sick leave, unemployment pay, or pensions. For example, in a high-income country such as the United Kingdom, women retire with an average pension savings of £69,000 (approximately $87,340), compared to men's £205,000. ($259,480), according to NOW: Pensions, a UK-based pension scheme. In developing countries, women often withdraw from the workforce due to family responsibilities, according to Aura Sevilla, also from WIEGO. Maternity policies that aim to fill in income gaps are often inadequate, according to WEF figures. Nearly one in two women who become pregnant aren't protected from income loss if they have their child, according to the ILO, leaving women with less overall wealth just because they started a family. At an average life expectancy of 74, women also live longer than men, whose life expectancy is 69, according to World Bank data. In many heterosexual relationships, this means women need to keep working if their partners are no longer able to work, or die, said Florian Juergens-Grant, also from WIEGO. Experts say that investing in the care economy, changing the culture of care, and strengthening unions and workers protections will help improve work conditions for women globally. For work to really work for women, experts agree that it is important to invest in the care economy, as it can create new jobs and offer a return on investment. Unpaid domestic and care work would equal a substantial portion of global GDP if given an equivalent monetary value, according to the ILO, who said that in some countries that amount would exceed 40%, based on conservative estimates. Chryspin Afifu of the International Center for Research on Women told CNN that care work needs to be seen as a public good and quantified so that governments can take action on subsidizing private care services and reducing financial burdens carried primarily by women. An example of how this action works in practice can be seen in a city-run project located in Bogotá, Colombia, where men are taught basic care skills in a bid to rebalance domestic care responsibilities. More than 400,000 people have benefitted from the Care Schools for Men program since its inception in 2021, and a survey from late 2023 suggests more men and women in Bogotá say that they now distribute household work more equally than in 2021. The city government also runs ''Care Blocks'' to support caregivers - the majority of whom are women - which include laundry services, legal aid, daycare, psychological support, and dance classes, among others. Between March 2021 and December 2023, almost 250,000 caregivers benefitted from these services, and the team is hoping to add a further 23 Care Blocks by 2035. Another way to improve work for women is to encourage multinational brands to audit working conditions all the way across their supply chain, WIEGO experts said. For example, many women in the garment and footwear industry prefer to work from home than in factories to either balance care responsibilities, for cultural or religious reasons, because they are too old to work in factories, or because they live in villages. But they often receive low wages, unstable and irregular pay, and endure poor working conditions. The strengthening of unions and collectives is also key in establishing better workers' rights for women. One success story comes from São Paulo, Brazil, where after years of organizing, the women-led Domestic Workers Union successfully negotiated a minimum wage above the national minimum, and weekly rest periods for live-in domestic workers, among other achievements. Commissioning EditorMeera SenthilingamReportersSophie Foggin, Kara FoxVisualsConnie Chen, Agne JurkenaiteVisual EditorsCarlotta Dotto, Elisa SolinasEditorsMeera Senthilingam, Kara FoxSenior Video ProducerLadan AnoushfarDeveloperByron Manley Senior Video ProducerLadan AnoushfarVideo ProducerEstefania Rodriguez
Miami Herald
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
UN chief ready tells Caribbean leaders he's ready to present Haiti security plan
Months after Haiti filed a formal request for the return of blue-helmet United Nations peacekeepers to help fight criminal armed gangs, the head of the world agency said he is ready to present a proposal to the U.N. Security Council. But Secretary-General António Guterres' request doesn't appear to be an endorsement of a traditional peacekeeping mission, the last of which ended in Haiti in 2017 after 13 years. Instead, Guterres' plan appears to be more of a hybrid that takes into account the current Kenya-led Multinational Security Support mission and its partial financing through a U.N.-controlled trust fund. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 48th annual meeting of the 15-member regional bloc known as CARICOM in Barbados, Guterres said he will soon present to the Security Council a proposal similar to one the U.N. has in Somalia to boost the struggling security response in Haiti, where armed gangs now control up to 90% of the capital. The plan, he said as he went off script from prepared remarks, is one in which 'the U.N. assumes the responsibility of the structural and logistical expenditures that are necessary to put the force in place, and the salaries of the force are paid through the trust fund that already exists.' 'If the [Security Council] accepts the proposal, we'll have the conditions to finally have an effective force to defeat the gangs in Haiti and create the conditions for democracy to thrive,' Guterres said during his address that called on Caribbean leaders to unite to address the climate crisis and other issues. Funding for the multinational mission has not amounted to what was either expected or promised, and the lack of resources has hampered the force's ability in Haiti to stop the violence and expansion of gangs that control key routes in and out of the capital, have forced more than a million to flee their homes and left six million people in need of humanitarian assistance. After providing more than $600 million — the lion's share of the funding —to support the Kenya-led mission, the Biden administration last year moved to have the mission transformed into a formal U.N. peacekeeping operation to address the shortfall. Instead of relying on the good will of donors, the administration wanted the funding to be guaranteed by having the money come from the assessed contributions of U.N. member states. Though the return of peacekeepers has widespread support in the region and on the Security Council, Guterres is a known critic of peacekeeping missions, and on the council both China and Russia have both balked at the idea. Neither nation has contributed to the mission's trust fund, which thus far has raised just over $100 million. In November, after weeks of negotiations between Beijing and Washington failed, the Security Council agreed to send a letter to Guterres asking him to provide 'a full range of options' for U.N. support in Haiti. His proposal comes amid uncertainty about whether the Trump administration would support changing the mission into a U.N. peacekeeping operation, and on whether the proposal would deal with the current gaps in the mission's operations. Also unclear is whether Russia and China would back the idea now that the U.N. would not be shouldering the full financial burden. Guterres' proposal is due by Feb. 28. A report released on the current political and gang crisis in Haiti by the International Crisis Group noted that given the current challenges in Haiti, any changes to the mission would likely need levels of uniformed personnel comparable to the former U.N. Stabilization Mission in Haiti, which at its peak had approximately 7,000 military troops and 2,000 police officers. The report noted that even if the Haitian national police and international forces receive financial and logistical support, 'it seems highly unlikely that gangs, which have amassed so much power, can be pushed back from most of the densely populated areas they hold in a few months.' Guterres is among several special guests attending the three-day gathering of Caribbean heads of government. The security crisis in Haiti, a member country, as well as the changing geopolitical landscape and the climate crisis were repeatedly mentioned by speakers 'The exquisite beauty of the Caribbean is famed the world over. But there is trouble in paradise,' Guterres said, calling for the region to unite. 'Wave after wave of crisis is pounding your people and your islands — with no time to catch your breath before the next disaster strikes.' There are three key areas where, together, they must drive progress, Guterres said, mentioning unifying for peace and security 'particularly to address the appalling situation in Haiti, where gangs are inflicting intolerable suffering on a desperate and frightened people.' As he and other spoke in Bridgetown, hundreds of miles away in Port-au-Prince panic was spreading through several neighborhoods amid fears that armed groups were once more on the move to attack neighborhoods. Both the outgoing and incoming chair of the Caribbean Community addressed the situation in Haiti and said it remains a priority for the regional bloc. 'The Haitian people must be at the center of all that we reflect upon,' said Mia Mottley, the prime minister of Barbados and chair of CARICOM. 'Their situation continues to be of major concern to us, and it is not going to be sufficient just to be able to say that Haiti will have an election on Nov. 15. It is not going to be sufficient to just stabilize the security situation,' she said, referring to the date the head of the country's transitional council recently proposed for elections.
