MIAMI (AP) 鈥 Florida residents watching the unfolding unrest in Haiti are expressing concerns for family and friends on the Caribbean island nation, saying they are virtually being held prisoners in their own homes because of the ongoing violence.
Cosy Joseph, of Boynton Beach, runs the Gaskov Clerge Foundation, which has worked to provide healthcare, education and sports opportunities in Haiti and the U.S. for more than two decades.
鈥淚鈥檝e never seen Haiti like this,鈥 Joseph said last week while watching events unfold from a distance. "I鈥檝e never seen so much devastation ... I鈥檝e never felt so helpless and hopeless.鈥
Armed gangs went on a about a month ago in Haiti, launching attacks on prisons, police stations and the country's international airport. They also moved against upscale neighborhoods and other districts in Haiti's capital of Port-au-Prince. Scores of people , and thousands have been left homeless amid the violence that has now brought fears of deepening hunger.
鈥淚 have family in Port au Prince who are basically prisoners in their own home,鈥 Joseph said. 鈥淭hey can鈥檛 really go out because they they don鈥檛 feel safe. I mean, who wants to be in that situation? So it鈥檚 heartbreaking for everyone, and I think almost every Haitian, whether you are living outside of Haiti or in Haiti, is impacted by this.鈥
The U.S. State Department and the Florida Department of Emergency Management have been running to get U.S. citizens safely out of Haiti. More than 200 people have been flown back to Florida since the violence broke out.
