Haiti gang violence soars
Introduction
Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, has been engulfed in a wave of escalating gang violence, with recent incidents highlighting the severity of the crisis. The situation has deteriorated significantly since the assassination of former president Jovenel Moïse in 2021, pushing the nation to the brink of collapse.
Recent Attacks
Hospital Shooting On December 24, 2024, a devastating attack occurred during the reopening of Port-au-Prince’s largest public hospital, the State University of Haiti Hospital. Gang members from the Viv Ansanm coalition opened fire, resulting in the deaths of two journalists, Markenzy Nathoux and Jimmy Jean, and a police officer. At least seven other journalists were wounded in the attack. The hospital had been closed since February 2024 due to previous gang activity.
Massacre in Cité Soleil
Earlier in December, a horrific massacre took place in the Cité Soleil neighborhood. The United Nations reported that 207 people, many of them elderly and Vodou spiritual leaders, were brutally murdered by gang members between December 6 and 11. The attack was allegedly orchestrated by a local gang leader in retaliation for his son’s illness, which he blamed on “witchcraft”.
Scale of Violence
The extent of gang control and violence in Haiti is staggering:
Gangs control an estimated 85% of Port-au-Prince.
Over 5,358 people have been killed in gang violence in 2024 alone.
More than 700,000 people, half of them children, have been internally displaced due to gang activity.
The UN reports that 17,000 people have been killed or wounded due to gang-related conflicts since the start of 2022.
Impact on Infrastructure and Society
The gang violence has had far-reaching consequences
Hospitals and clinics have been targeted, with the Bernard Mevs hospital being set on fire by gangs last week.
The capital’s airport was forced to close to commercial flights in November due to gang attacks.
Sexual violence, including gang rape, is being used as a tool of terror against the local population.
Child recruitment into gangs has increased by 70% over the past year, according to UNICEF.
International Response
Efforts to quell the violence have so far been ineffective:
A Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support Mission has been deployed, with 400 officers arriving in June 2024.
The mission faces overwhelming odds, with an estimated 12,000 armed gang members operating in the country.
Additional reinforcements are expected, aiming to increase the force to 1,000 personnel by the end of the year.
Conclusion
Despite these efforts, the situation in Haiti remains critical, with gangs continuing to exert control over large parts of the capital and perpetrating acts of violence against civilians with apparent impunity.
