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| SOS Children's Villages in Cap Haitien and Santo, Haiti. |
December 9, 2010: Violent riots erupted across Haiti following the publication of presidential election results on Tuesday, December 7. For security reasons, SOS Children's Villages has temporarily closed its schools in Port-au-Prince and Cap Haitien.
Rumors of impending demonstrations and riots began immediately after presidential election results were published in Haiti late Tuesday night. By Wednesday morning, much of the country’s urban public transportation as well as the international airport had closed. SOS Children’s Villages staff on the ground described a scene of earthquake damaged city streets overtaken by protesters, fires, and barricades. Today, Haitian radio reports that the violent clashes have claimed several lives.
SOS Hermann Gmeiner Schools in Port-au-Prince and Cap Haitien closed on Wednesday. Students, teachers and other SOS staff stayed at home to avoid the protests. The schools will reopen when local and international SOS administration have deemed the neighborhoods surrounding the SOS facilities safe and secure.
"It is important that everyone stays inside,” said Dionisio Pereira, National Director of SOS Children's Villages - Haiti. "People already know when those security measures need to be taken. On days like today, everyone stays at home. We are staying inside the SOS Children's Village in Santo and will monitor media reports on the situation from our temporary offices here.”
Early Wednesday morning Arrol Francis, SOS Children’s Village Director in Cap Haitien, reported that a student required medical attention for minor injuries. A bottle thrown by a protester hit the teenage girl while she was walking to school with her classmates. At this time, no other injuries to SOS children, students, or staff have been reported.
SOS Children's Villages is constantly monitoring the situation in Haiti to ensure the safety and well-being of the children in our care. Depending on developments over the next days, local and international SOS staff will decide when to reopen schools and offices.
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