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The Multinational Security Support (MSS) team and the Haitian National Police (PNH) wants gang leader Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier and his group to surrender.

The team said they have sustained operations in parts of Port-au-Prince targeting the gangs’ strongholds.

“The MSS issues a stern warning to gang leaders: surrender now or face the inevitable force that will strike them sooner than anticipated,” said MSS said in a statement.

The team continued with the operation on the gang on Monday which revealed the presence of Barbecue accompanied by approximately 30 gang members.

“They were attempting to advance in two groups of about 15 members each, targeting Delmas 2 and 6.”

“The MSS/PNH teams responded swiftly with proportionate firepower, forcing the gang members to retreat in disarray and shock,” the team said.

Gang members

They added several casualties were reported among the gang members and that some hesitated to obey orders from their so-called leader, refusing to confront the determined MSS/PNH teams.

MSS and HNP continued night and day patrols in Carrefour paye, Route coloniale, Bois dutre jette, Fosse cheval, Alee nan parent, Ale pe josephat, Villard, Lestere and Liancourt

The statement said the team joined hands with locals to fill up potholes along Route Coloniale at Carrefour Paye, which have been difficult to use for farmers using it to ferry their farm produce.

The commissioner of Gonaives arrived later with his convoy where MSS /HNP joined to escort them to Liancourt.

This saw the deployment police officers and reopening of Liancourt police station, which had been abandoned some time back due to gang aggression.

Locals applauded the initiative to reopen Liancourt Police Station observing that this has been actualized through the compact working relationship between MSS and HNP. Locals broke into jubilation as the Police Commissioner of Gonaive cut the tape signifying the official reopening of the police station.

Area inhabitable

As a show of appreciation, the locals mobilized themselves and started cleaning the area to make it habitable. Sections of Haiti are facing increased attacks from gangs amid political instability.

Kenya police together with those from Jamaica, Bahamas and Belize are in the Caribbean country to help fight the gangs.

Haiti’s leaders have asked for a U.N. peacekeeping force, and the permanent council of the Organization of American States adopted a resolution on November 13 entitled “In Support of Haiti’s Request for a United States Peacekeeping Operation.”

Haiti PM Alix Didier Fils-Aimé Monday launched a major initiative to assist displaced persons in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince.

Supported by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), this action aims to meet the urgent needs of thousands of compatriots forced to flee their homes due to violence perpetrated by armed gangs.

Faced with this alarming humanitarian crisis, this operation, led by the Economic and Social Assistance Fund (FAES), in conjunction with the Civil Protection Directorate (DPC), illustrates the government’s firm commitment to providing immediate and concrete support to the most vulnerable populations.

Two weeks ago, the transitional council replaced Garry Conille, a US ally, as prime minister, prompting the latest wave of bloodletting.

Since then, flights into Port-au-Prince’s main airport have been suspended after a Spirit Airlines passenger jet flying in from Florida was shot at multiple times, injuring a stewardess.

Meanwhile, after 30 years of uninterrupted service, Doctors Without Borders this week suspended its operations in Haiti, saying the security situation had become untenable and blaming, among others, the Bwa Kale.