GUN VIOLENCE IN HAITI IS OUT OF CONTROL!
The humanitarian conditions in Haiti are “cataclysmic,” the UN’s human rights commissioner said recently. A new transitional presidential council and an interim prime minister have just been installed, but a third essential element for political stability, an international security force to root out the deadly gangs, has yet to arrive. UNOCHA/GILES CLARKE
It’s no secret that gang violence and political instability are threatening the last vestiges of normalcy in many parts of Haiti and feeding a security and humanitarian crisis. Now, Finance Minister Michel Patrick Boisvert, sworn in on April 25 as the interim prime minister to lead the Transitional Presidential Council, faces the job of restoring order and salvaging the country’s democratic institutions. He also requires another crucial element to steer Haiti from ruin. William O’Neill, a United Nations expert on human rights in Haiti, told PassBlue that the presidential council will need the UN Security Council-backed Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission to square off against the gangs, who have taken over large portions of the capital of Port-au-Prince and forced tens of thousands people to flee to the countryside and beyond. When asked if the new council could bring calm to Haiti, O’Neill responded: “It cannot without the multinational support mission. No, not at all. That’s why you need the international force.”
Yet there was no word on the first day of the new council of immediate plans for the MSS, O’Neill said. In one positive sign, however, the United States Air Force landed two C-130 planes last week at Haiti’s international airport to augment the security personnel at the US embassy, according to the Southern Command.
Certainly! The situation of gun violence in Haiti is deeply concerning. Here are some key points:
Record-High Violence:
The first quarter of 2024 was the deadliest for Haitians, with around 2,500 people killed or injured in gang violence.
Gang attacks have targeted police stations, prisons, schools, hospitals, and religious sites in Port-au-Prince.
The severity of the crisis underscores the gaps in capacity within national structures, necessitating urgent international assistance1.
Firearms Trafficking:
Increasingly sophisticated firearms and ammunition are being trafficked into Haiti, fueling the ongoing surge of gang violence.
Despite not manufacturing weapons locally, Haiti has seen a flood of various types of guns, including high-powered rifles, pistols, sniper rifles, and machine guns2.
Vulnerable Children:
The crisis has disproportionately affected children.
Approximately 30% to 50% of armed groups have minors in their ranks, and over 400 grave rights violations against children have been verified.
More than 180,000 children are internally displaced, with many at risk of severe malnutrition.
Humanitarian Response:
Humanitarian partners are creating a logistics platform in Cap-Haitian, where a secondary international airport and a port remain operational.
New supply lines outside of Port-au-Prince have been opened.
However, only 8% of the 2024 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for Haiti has been funded, highlighting the need for more support1.
The situation in Haiti is dire, and urgent international efforts are required to address the violence and protect vulnerable populations.
Haitian Outreach has created a fund “Larry’s Food Fund” whereby funds are wired to our sisters and sponsor children’s families to purchase a small amount of food. Food has doubled in price in the last year and gangs control the port, airport and roads into Port au Prince. Please pray for peace.
Pauline Aliskevicz- director Haitian Outreach