International security forces are unable to guarantee the safety of rescue workers at night in Haiti's capital, a security forces spokesman told reporters on Saturday.
Before the 7.0-maginitude earthquake hit Haiti on Tuesday, the "red district" known for its high crime was dangerous to enter at night. After the quake, not only looters run rampant in the streets at night. As a result of the quake, Port-au-Prince's main prison was destroyed and the inmates all escaped, joining in with other criminals.
"Before the quake the city had a so-called red district, which was crime-ridden, but now after the quake we can say that almost all of Port-au-Prince has turned into 'a red district,'" the spokesman said.
Some 150 security officers are guarding international rescue workers near their camps. Gunfire is sometimes heard in the capital's streets at night.
The 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Haiti on Tuesday and almost leveled Port-au-Prince. A number of aftershocks followed. The most recent quake, measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale, was registered some 60 km (37 miles) to the south of Port-au-Prince late on Friday night.
According to the latest figures, some 140,000 were killed in the quake, 250,000 were injured, and more than 3 million have been left without shelter.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, January 16 (RIA Novosti)
