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Add an EventHaiti: Thousands protest over growing hunger
Some of the demonstrators barricaded the streets with burning tires and sacked food supplies. According to one source, eight people were wounded when soldiers opened fire on the crowd. Schools, stores and banks in Les Cayes were forced to shut down because of the clashes.
Demonstrations against the soaring cost of living were also reported in other parts of southern Haiti and in the northern city of Gonaives, Haiti’s fourth largest. These protests have been building steadily. According to statistics kept by the UN mission, there were 164 such demonstrations in the six months leading up to last August and 258 in the subsequent six months.
MINUSTAH issued a statement condemning the recent demonstration in Les Cayes. “Acts of violence, whatever they may be,” the UN occupation force warned, “can only hinder efforts of the Haitian authorities in their struggle to improve living conditions of the population.”
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At least four people were killed and 20 wounded when demonstrations against rising food prices turned into riots in southern Haiti, officials say.
Reports say scores of people went on the rampage in the town of Les Cayes, blocking roads, looting shops and shooting at UN peacekeepers.
The UN said its personnel had opened fire at some of the armed protesters.
For two days running, parts of Haiti have been erupting into violence triggered by the soaring cost of food.
The prices of rice, beans and fruit have gone up by 50% in the last year.
Earlier this week, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon issued a report saying that the food crisis threatened the Caribbean nation's fragile security.
Government food aid
The demonstrations against the high cost of living began on Thursday in a number of towns, but in some areas they turned into riots.
On Friday, thousands took to the streets again, with some blocking roads, burning cars and looting shops. A small group of protesters also broke into the UN compound in Les Cayes and damaged its gate.
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