The United Nations says it remains deeply concerned about the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Haiti amid ongoing gang violence and sporadic clashes between heavily armed gangs and police forces in some parts of the capital, Port-au-Prince. At least 15,000 people have been displaced by the clashes, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
“Our colleagues on the ground tell us that the Haitian National Police have been able to push back coordinated gang attacks on key infrastructures, including the airport,” UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said on Friday.
“We are, however, very worried about reports of gangs having breached and looted Port-au-Prince’s seaport. Port operations have been suspended for some days now,” he said.
On February 29, violence erupted in many neighborhoods of the capital, Port-au-Prince, as gangs launched coordinated attacks aimed at overthrowing the government of Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
On March 1, heavy gunfire led to two prison breaks, plunging the capital and surrounding areas into further chaos. Thousands of prisoners fled the Haitian National Penitentiary in the capital during a shootout between national police and an alliance of armed gangs. The National Penitentiary previously held nearly 4,000 prisoners; 99 prisoners reportedly remained inside the prison.
Meanwhile, armed gangs have stepped up attacks on critical infrastructure, including police stations, the international airport and the seaport. Media reports on Saturday indicated that armed gangs had also attacked government buildings.
A state of emergency, initially declared by the authorities for three days, was extended for one month until April 3. A nighttime curfew has also been imposed until March 11.
The violence has also disrupted economic activity throughout the city. All commercial airlines have suspended flights to Port-au-Prince. The government of the Dominican Republic closed its airspace to all flights to and from Haiti on March 5.
In the past few days, some 15,000 people have been displaced by the violence. Approximately 362,000 people are currently displaced in the country. More than 160,000 people are currently displaced in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area. More than half of those forced to flee are children.
Jimmy Cherizier, known as "Barbecue," leader of Haiti's powerful G9 gang alliance, said before the coordinated attacks that rival gangs had "united" and launched a "revolution" to remove Prime Minister Henry from power. Cherizier, a former police officer, said the goal was to prevent Henry from returning to the country.
Since late February, gang violence has escalated in the Caribbean nation after the prime minister left for Kenya. Henry is currently in Puerto Rico. He traveled to Kenya late last month to drum up support for an international security force to intervene in Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.
The United Nations has authorized the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission to help Haiti combat gang violence and restore security
In Kenya, Henry and Kenyan President William Ruto signed a long-awaited bilateral agreement paving the way for 1,000 Kenyan police officers to lead the proposed multinational force.
Through his spokesperson, UN Secretary-General AntĂłnio Guterres on Friday reiterated his call on the Haitian Government and all national stakeholders to agree on immediate steps to advance the political process leading to elections. He also reiterated the need for urgent international action, including immediate financial support for the MSS mission, which is critically needed to address insecurity in Haiti.
Dujarric confirmed that the United Nations has been invited to attend the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)-organized meeting to be held on Monday at its headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica.
“The Chef de Cabinet, Courtenay Rattray, will attend the meeting along with several international partners, to foster support towards the restoration of democratic institutions in Haiti in the shortest possible amount of time”, the spokesman said.
In its latest situation report, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the looting of the country's main port, through which the vast majority of goods and products pass, was endangering humanitarian operations. More than 300 humanitarian containers were at risk of being looted.
Despite the ongoing violence, humanitarian actors continue to assist civilians, according to the UN. OCHA says the most urgent needs include access to food, health care, water and sanitation, and psychological support.
While humanitarian agencies continue to provide emergency assistance amid some access constraints, they remain deeply concerned about the impact of the violence on hospitals and health centers.
The violence has brought the health system and health response to the brink of collapse. Gender-based violence protection and services have been reduced or suspended for security and access reasons.
In a statement on Saturday, the International Organization for Migration also expressed deep concern about the upsurge of violence in Haiti.
“Haitians are unable to lead a decent life. They are living in fear, and every day, every hour this situation carries on, the trauma gets worse,” said Philippe Branchat, IOM's chief in Haiti, noting that insecurity was growing at the national level.
“People living in the capital are locked in, they have nowhere to go. People fleeing cannot reach family members and friends in the rest of the country to find shelter. The capital is surrounded by armed groups and danger. It is a city under siege.”
The United Nations estimates that more than 5.5 million people in the country - nearly half the population - will be dependent on humanitarian assistance this year. Among those in need are nearly 3 million children - the highest number ever recorded.
Violent armed gangs control much of the capital, are gaining control of Port-au-Prince, and have spread to other parts of the country. They have committed massacres, kidnappings, human trafficking and sexual violence. An estimated two million people, including 1.6 million women and children, live in areas effectively controlled by the gangs.
In 2023, Haiti saw the highest number of murders, kidnappings, lynchings, and sexual assaults in the past five years. January 2024 was the most violent month in two years.
The spiral of violence has severely disrupted all socio-economic activities and the free movement of people and goods, especially in Port-au-Prince. Armed gangs have escalated attacks on hospitals, schools, playgrounds, markets and transportation to alarming levels.
The deteriorating security situation has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, with basic services on the verge of collapse and more than 40 percent of the population, some 4.35 million people, facing acute hunger.
An estimated 1.4 million people are suffering from emergency levels of hunger. Some 276,000 children under five as well as pregnant and lactating women are at risk of acute malnutrition, including more than 125,000 severe cases.
Humanitarian organizations need unimpeded access throughout the country to ensure that life-saving assistance reaches the most vulnerable people.
Further information
Full text: Waves of Violence Storm Port-au-Prince in Haiti Further Displacing Thousands, IOM, press release, published March 9, 2024
https://www.iom.int/news/waves-violence-storm-port-au-prince-haiti-further-displacing-thousands
Full text: Haiti Emergency Situation Report No. 4 (As of 8 March 2024), UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, report, published March 9, 2024
https://reliefweb.int/report/haiti/haiti-emergency-situation-report-no-4-8-march-2024