Haiti’s increasing gang violence has evoked a humanitarian catastrophe that requires international attention. About 5 million, nearly half of the population are struggling to feed themselves due to the ongoing food crisis. The violence has affected access to humanitarian assistance. Since the assassination of Haiti’s last President Jovenel Moisein July 2021, armed gangs have expanded their influence in the politically unstable country. The rampant gang related violence has escalated since the assassination.
The country haven’t conducted general elections since 2016, the acting Prime Minister Ariel Henry who took office immediately after assassination of President Moisein lacked legitimacy and was highly unpopular. He handed over the resignation in late April following the formation of a transitional presidential council that will hold elections and build state institutions. They instated current acting Prime Minister Garry Conille, who yesterday ordered the gangs to drop their weapons and pledged to crack down on the indiscriminate violence in the capital.
Haiti is facing emergency like situation
Over the past few months, criminal gangs have terrorized the capital, Port-au-Prince leading to displacement of more than 5 million Haitians. They have taken control of almost 80% of Haiti’s capital. They are involved in mass rapes, kidnappings, arsons, and indiscriminate killings. The rampant violence has led to shortage of food, fuel, medical supplies since these armed gangs have cut off trade routes to the city.
Sexual violence against women and girls is on rise since these armed gangs are using rape as weapons of war. Displaced population are living in overcrowded and unhygienic camps, which lack basic human necessities and have put women and girls at risk of sexual violence. The criminal activity has wracked the state to unprecedented levels. Human Rights groups have expressed their concern over human rights abuses and insufficiency of funds from the international community.
Kenya lead the UN backed mission
In Oct 2023, the UN Security Council resolution authorized the deployment of a Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission to support the Haitian police force to combat gang violence and stabilize the crisis. Kenya stepped forward to lead this security mission and proposed sending 1000 personnel to Haiti.
Around 400 Kenyan police officers are already deployed in Haiti to restore law and order in violence-wracked state. Kenya has a history of sending peacekeeping forces to unstable countries . But the watchdogs worry about the history of Kenyan police using excessive force since there are reported unlawful killings by the hands of Kenyan police.
In the near future other states have also volunteered to send their defense forces from Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Chad and Jamaica.
Sexual and gender based-violence must stop
Women and children become easy targets of violence at a time of conflict and chaos. SOFA centers which provide support to the sexual violence survivors have reported extreme number of rape cases. Accounts of the horrifying brutality and harassment faced at the hands of these violent gangs are just inhumane. These survivors demand nothing except justice, the international community must at least take required measures to provide them medical as well as psychological assistance.
In desperation, many boys have joined armed gangs, and women and girls have also resorted to prostitution to meet their needs, which is in reality a failure for all of us.
The UN Security Council has passed a unanimous resolution to condemn the increasing gang violence in Haiti that has evoked a humanitarian crisis and disturbed the peace and security of the state.
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Very distressing and miserable conditions of Haitians.