PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) 鈥 Haiti鈥檚 prime minister held his first press conference Thursday since being appointed more than a month ago to oversee the troubled Caribbean country reeling from recent massacres as Haitians demand government protection.
Alix Didier Fils-Aim茅 said he and the entire government bow deeply and in Petite Rivi猫re in the central Artibonite region, calling them innocent victims preyed upon by gangs.
Local human rights groups have said more than 100 people, the majority between 60 and 80 years old including Vodou religious leaders, were killed on Friday and Saturday in the community of Cit茅-Soleil by a gang leader seeking to avenge his son鈥檚 death. The U.N. high commissioner of human rights put the death tally at 184 victims.
Another massacre was reported on Tuesday night in Petite Rivi猫re with some 20 people killed, including women and children.
鈥淭his is not acceptable,鈥 Fils-Aim茅 said. 鈥淣o one on earth should be living this way. As soon as someone wakes up in the morning, they鈥檙e scared, and they step out鈥ot knowing if they鈥檒l make it back home.鈥
Fils-Aim茅, a businessman who was appointed to the position on Nov. 10 after the previous prime minister was fired, said the government was fighting to guarantee everyone鈥檚 security.
He did not provide details but said officials are working on strategies to move the country forward.
鈥淚f you don鈥檛 hear from me, it鈥檚 because I鈥檓 working every day on the security situation,鈥 he said.
Local media have criticized Fils-Aim茅 for his lack of presence and availability since being appointed prime minister by a .
He said that the justice minister and police need to work together so victims of gang violence get justice, reparations and security as he called upon the population to remain extremely vigilant and cooperate with police.
鈥淭hey need help,鈥 he said of Haiti鈥檚 春色直播 Police, which remain understaffed and underfunded as it works with aimed at quelling gang violence. 鈥淥ne group of people cannot provide security. We all have to put our heads together to regain the Haiti that we want.鈥
Fils-Aim茅 called Haitian police 鈥渉eroes鈥 as the country's finance minister noted that the amount allocated for their expenses has been doubled. He did not provide further details.
The prime minister also announced that the government would soon launch projects to help citizens reopen businesses that gang violence forced closed.
More than 5,000 people have been reported killed so far this year in Haiti, the majority of them victims by gangs that control 85% of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
Fils-Aim茅 spoke for about 10 minutes and did not take questions from the press.
He is the former president of Haiti鈥檚 Chamber of Commerce and Industry and in 2015 ran an unsuccessful campaign for Senate. The businessman studied at Boston University and was previously considered for prime minister after Ariel Henry resigned in late April following coordinated gang attacks on critical government infrastructure earlier this year.
, with gunmen attacking once peaceful neighborhoods and at Haiti鈥檚 main international airport, striking one flight attendant who sustained minor injuries.
, but the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration extended a ban on U.S. flights to Port-au-Prince through March 12.
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