Haitian gangs recruiting children with promise of food, shelter: Report

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

AS VIOLENCE CONTINUES TO GRIP HAITI… THERE ARE NOW REPORTS THAT GANGS ON THE ISLAND NATION ARE RECRUITING KIDS AS YOUNG AS 8.

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH REPORTING WEDNESDAY GANGS ARE LURING CHILDREN WITH THE PROMISE OF FOOD, SHELTER AND MONEY.

BOYS ARE RECRUITED TO BE INFORMANTS, BRANDISHING GUNS AND SOMETIMES INVOLVED IN SHOOTOUTS WITH POLICE.

AND LITTLE GIRLS ARE USED AS HOUSE SERVANTS AND OFTEN BECOME VICTIMS OF RAPE FROM GANG MEMBERS.

THE GROUPS SAYS CHILD RECRUITMENT IS RAMPING UP WITH SOME MEMBERS USING RAP VIDEOS TO APPEAL TO YOUTH.

H-R-W URGES HAITI AND OTHER COUNTRIES TO DEPLOY MORE SECURITY FORCES AND HUMANITARIAN AID TO ALLEVIATE NEAR-FAMINE CONDITIONS.

THE U-S IS ALSO PRESSURING A U-N APPROVED INTERNATIONAL SECURITY FORCE TO TRANSFORM ITS MISSION INTO A U-N PEACEKEEPING OPERATION.

THE CURRENT KENYAN-LED INTERNATIONAL SECURITY FORCE IS LACKING IN PERSONNEL.

ONLY 410 OF THE 25-HUNDRED PROMISED OFFICERS ARE IN THE COUNTRY.

KENYA’S PRESIDENT PLANS TO BEEF UP THOSE NUMBERS.

ANNOUNCING THE DEPLOYMENT OF 300 OFFICERS THIS MONTH FOLLOWED BY 300 MORE IN NOVEMBER.

THE REINFORCEMENTS WOULD REPORTEDLY HELP KENYANS SET UP A DOZEN OPERATING BASES THROUGHOUT THE METRO OF PORT-AU-PRINCE AND RURAL AREAS WHERE GANGS HAVE REGAINED CONTROL.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.