Over the past week, over 150 people have been killed in Port-au-Prince, Haiti due to a surge in gang violence as per the United Nations. More than half of the deaths resulted from exchanges of fire between gang members and police, driving thousands of people from their homes causing a humanitarian crisis. Gangs have gained control over the main roads in and out of the capital, holding its four million inhabitants “hostage” according to the high commissioner. The situation has been exacerbated by a power vacuum following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021, leading to a chain of violent events and political instability.
Efforts to restore order have been hampered by the lack of personnel in the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS), a Kenya-led police force deployed to combat the gangs. There are calls to increase funding and personnel for the MSS, with a proposal to transform it into a UN peacekeeping force. Haitian civil society leaders cautiously welcome the multinational mission but emphasize that long-term solutions require more than just force, including support for the national police, anti-corruption measures, and a Haitian-led political process.
The UN warns of a severe humanitarian crisis as armed groups control a large part of Port-au-Prince, resulting in disruptions to air travel and internal power struggles in the country. With concerns about the safety and rights of those living in gang-controlled areas, urgent action is needed to normalize the situation and avert further escalation of violence in Haiti.
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