Because of the daily demonstrations in the streets, to avoid riots in the detention centers, the prison authorities decided to confine detainees in the cells "[...] the prison officials decided to keep the detainees in their cell with less than onr hour outdoors per day," said Marie Rosy Auguste Ducena of the National Network for the Defense of Human Rights (RNDDH) which constitutes a violation of human rights and endangers the health of detainees (cells without showers and toilets) when we know that Haiti's prisons are the most overcrowded in the world (occupancy rate above 400%) https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23478-haiti-flash-haiti-world-champion-of-prison-overcrowding.html

Recall that the law stipulates that detainees must spend at least 6 hours a day outside their cell and international standards recommend at least 4.5 m2 of living space per detainee whereas in Haiti each prisoner has on average only of 0.5 m ...

"People are being held in inhumane conditions," said Ducena. Recalling that, as of 15 October 2019, the "National Penitentiary, the largest detention center in the country, could be compared to a "concentration center" more than a prison with 3,626 prisoners (75% in pre-trial detention without judgment https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-27376-haiti-un-gravity-of-the-situation-of-the-human-rights-in-haiti.html ) for a planned reception capacity for 778 prisoners...

This worsening of prison conditions, while the number of people imprisoned in pre-trial detention is exploding because of the paralysis of the judicial system, makes it feared that worse to the prison directors "The prisoners are very tense, they talk about what is happening outside because they are following the news. Some prison directors believe that detainees are waiting for an external event to escape..." Ducena emphasizes.

Moreover, with the crisis that has been going on for several months now, it has become difficult to supply the prisons with water and food because of the barricades erected on the main roads...

The National Network for the Defense of Human Rights (RNDDH) reveals that several prisons have no more food for prisoners "There are prisons where there is more food: the civil prison of Jérémie, the civil prison from Mirebalais. There are risks that prisoners will starve to death." The almost total paralysis of the transport prevents even the relatives of the prisoners to bring provisions in prison... Moreover, the visits were also suspended in all the prisons of the country "for reasons of safety" affirms the RNDDH.

Asked about the situation, the prison, police and judicial authorities refuse to comment.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29107-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-27376-haiti-un-gravity-of-the-situation-of-the-human-rights-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23478-haiti-flash-haiti-world-champion-of-prison-overcrowding.html

S/ HaitiLibre