Three municipal authorities of La Gonâve contacted by AyiboPost say they are concerned about the lack of resources on site to take care of displaced families
Chantal Jean embarked with her two minor children – aged 15 and 10 respectively – alongside 12 other passengers on a sailboat on the evening of October 24, 2024.
Where to? La Gonâve, an island located northwest of the capital, where this 43-year-old merchant has no family or friends.
At 10 o’clock in the evening, consumed by despair and worry, Chantal Jean and the other passengers disembarked on the Anse-à-Galets wharf with only a few suitcases as luggage.
Jean lived in Arcahaie, an area that has become a battlefield for armed bandits since October 10.
The newcomers were received by a member of the Board of Directors of the municipal section of La Gonâve, Luckson Fils-Aime. They were directed to the local National School in the area, now transformed into a refugee camp.
More than 1,500 people have already been forced to undertake this journey, according to data collected between October 11 and October 26, published by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
On site, Jean and her children rely on the goodwill of the Ansois residents to feed themselves.
On October 27, 2024, Finelie Paris and six other members of her family, including children, arrived at two in the morning on the island of La Gonâve.
Read also: La Gonâve creates its own police force, with weapons of unknown origin
The pouring rain and the strong wind slowed the progress of the boat, which left the flag city at 9 o’clock on Saturday evening.
With empty hands, the 50-year-old shopkeeper joined her relatives in Anse-à-Galets. Leaving everything behind, in Arcahaie.
Other families continue to arrive on the island, namely in the 11 communal sections of Anse-à-Galets, according to Ernso Louissaint, mayor of this commune, contacted by AyiboPost, adding that a count is underway in the different municipal sections.
These two municipalities share commercial relations. Every day, boats go back and forth between Arcahaie and La Gonâve.
The risks of encountering bandits during the journey to Port-au-Prince, as well as those linked to traveling to Artibonite, also under the control of armed groups, led these fleeing families to choosing the island.
Three municipal authorities in La Gonâve contacted by AyiboPost say they are concerned about the lack of resources on site to take care of displaced families.
Arcahaie and Cabaret were targeted by gangs several times in 2023.
These two municipalities share commercial relations. Every day, boats go back and forth between Arcahaie and La Gonâve.
In August 2024, around 10 people lost their lives in violence perpetrated by armed groups.
Since October 10, 2024, attacks by the Canaan and Source-Matelas gangs have pushed more than 21,000 people to flee their homes in Arcahaie.
This town is renowned for the production of bananas and other food products. The bandits destroyed plantations and incinerated homes.
The authorities are failing to slow the progression of the gangs, despite the presence on the territory of the multinational force led by Kenya.
Read also: What are Kenyans waiting for to act against the bandits?
Some families from Archahaie fled to the hills, to join communal sections like Fond Baptiste and Vase.
Others chose La Gonâve: a 38-kilometer journey at sea on fragile, overloaded boats without appropriate equipment.
This trip costs around 2,500 gourdes per person, according to the testimonies of four passengers.
Member of the board of directors of the communal section (CASEC) of Anse-à-Galets, Luckson Fils-Aimé highlights the efforts of his administration since the arrival of the first families on the island. It supports nearly 300 displaced people, living in the two rooms of the National School located in the second communal section.
“So far, we can only accommodate people coming from Arcahaie. For food, we carried out collections within the community,” notes Fils-Aimé.
But he is concerned about the possibility of running out of certain essential products.
Commercial boats which used to supply the island of Gonâve with food products and fuel have not traveled for a week, according to the official.
Arcahaie and Cabaret were targeted by gangs several times in 2023.
“This situation could cause complications for the Anse-à-Galets population and the refugees,” he fears.
A water shortage looms. A single source supplies four neighborhoods in this communal section.
“Some people are forced to travel many kilometers to get drinking water,” informs Fils-Aimé, fearing for the displaced children who cannot yet go to school.
More than a week after the violent attack by armed bandits in Arcahaie, no central state authority is providing assistance to the authorities on site in La Gonâve to support the refugees, according to two officials from this commune contacted by AyiboPost.
The locality was already facing structural challenges. Community leaders were demanding better treatment from the central government, well before the arrival of these displaced people in Anse-à-Galets.
“We have not received our salary from the central state for three months. In addition, a cumulative debt of 36 months still remains unpaid,” reports CASEC.
Travel by displaced families to this 743 square kilometer island in the West department remains risky and fragile due to the insecurity that reigns on the Côte des Arcadins.
Some people are forced to travel many kilometers to get drinking water
The maritime and navigation service (SEMANAH) is struggling to control ships as they leave the Arcahaie wharf, due to the insecurity that reigns in the area.
“It remains up to the kindness and conscience of the captains not to overload the boats,” Erold Champagne, coordinator of territorial representations within the institution, told AyiboPost.
“SEMANAH representatives only supervise the arrival of ships at Anse-à-Galets,” Champagne informs AyiboPost.
In this context where people want to escape gang violence at all costs, Erold Champagne says he is not in a position to sanction amateurs who make overcrowded trips.
The risks of drowning in the event of a shipwreck are enormous, fears Luckson Fils-Aimé.
“Some sailboats can normally transport up to 18 people, yet they take up to 40 people,” laments CASEC to AyiboPost.
On the night of Sunday October 27, SEMANAH rescued passengers from an overloaded boat after it hit a rock while leaving the wharf.
Wanting to avoid crossing the path of the gangs coming from the south, who attack even in the open water, the captain deviated towards the north, in shallow sea.
However, since the boat was overloaded, it became even more vulnerable and hit the underwater rocks.
SEMANAH’s intervention allowed the occupants to escape safely, confirms Champagne.
Other concerns worry maritime officials.
Boarding takes place very late in the evening, which could hamper emergency services in the event of danger.
“Some sailboats can normally carry up to 18 people, yet they embark up to 40 people”
– laments the CASEC to AyiboPost.
Agronomist Claunel, whose house was burned down by bandits, has had to take refuge since October 17 with his family, in Tibwa, a locality in Arcahaie located higher up.
The man fears what could happen to his henhouse and gardens, investments he estimates at nearly 500,000 gourdes.
Some of his neighbors went to La Gonâve, but he preferred to stay in the hope that the situation would improve.
“For the moment, the presence of the police seems to deter gangs in certain places, but people continue to flee,” Claunel told AyiboPost.
For Rolph Louis Young & Wethzer Piercin
Cover image | On October 29, 2021, in Anse-à-Pitres, the population witnessed the sinking of the L’Écclésiaste boat. ©Jean Paul Saint-Fleur
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