Conditions Deteriorate from Continued Gang Violence in Haiti — Global Issues
UNITED NATIONS, Nov 02 (IPS) – Due to political instability, increased gang violence, and a lack of basic services, Haiti is among the most severe humanitarian crises in the world. According to the 2024 CAPS report, gangs have seized 85 percent of the country’s capital, Port-Au-Prince, leaving more than 700,000 people displaced.
Most of the Haitians who have left have fled to Haiti’s neighboring country, the Dominican Republic. In early October, the Dominican Republic announced an evacuation order, forcing thousands of Haitian migrants to return to their conflict-ridden homes. As the conflict has reached a new high since October, aid agencies fear that the death toll in Haiti could rise significantly.
“The security situation is still very fragile, as the peaks of severe violence have reappeared. The Haitian people continue to suffer throughout the country as the incidents of gangs escalate and expand beyond Port-au-Prince, fueling fear and terror, engulfing the country’s security institutions,” said María. Isabel Salvador, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Coordination Office in Haiti (BINUH) in a United Nations (UN) press release.
The proliferation of gangs in Haiti’s most popular areas has endangered the lives of thousands of people. “The situation in Haiti is very serious, especially in the capital. Many areas are completely controlled by gangs, who use brutal violence,” said the UN humanitarian coordinator in Haiti Ulrika Richardson. According to the spokesperson of BINUH, “in the absence of state representatives, gangs increasingly demand the roles given to the police and judges while setting their own laws”.
A recent report by the UN Security Council estimates that Haitian gangs have amassed around 5,500 members, almost half of whom are child students. “The dire situation in Haiti puts children at risk of being recruited by gangs. The lack of education, employment and basic needs creates a situation where joining gangs seems to be the only way to survive,” said a spokesman for the Security Council. .
Catherine Russell, Chief Advocate in Haiti of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee and Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said that in addition to being used as foot soldiers, children who are recruited are also used as informers, cooks and hard workers. sex slaves.
A recent press release from the UN shows that between July and September, there have been more than 1,200 civilian casualties due to gang violence, as these attacks are concentrated in Port-Au-Prince and the Artibonite region. More than 170 have been kidnapped for ransom and documented.
Gang-based sexual violence against women and girls is still rampant in Haiti. “Rape by gangs is used as a weapon and the bodies of women and girls are a battlefield,” said Rosy Auguste Ducéna, Program Manager, National Human Rights Defense Network of Haiti.
On October 26, the Viv Ansanm gang raided the streets of the Solino area of Port-Au-Prince, burning down several houses. Gangs also attacked surrounding provinces, causing more than 10,000 people to flee in one week.
On October 2, the Dominican Republic announced that it would begin deporting approximately 10,000 Haitian refugees per week. In the first three weeks of October, some 28,000 Haitians were deported from the Dominican Republic back to Haiti. “We came here looking for a better life and a job. But now we are back to living in fear,” said Wilner Davail, a Haitian immigrant who lived in the Dominican Republic.
According to the World Food Program (WFP), increased gang violence and economic shocks have caused a major food crisis in Haiti. More than 5 million Haitians, nearly half the population, are in dire need of food aid, facing severe food insecurity. An estimated two million people are struggling with acute levels of hunger.
Access to basic services for millions of Haitians remains critical. According to a report by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), only 24 percent of hospitals in Haiti are working, and the majority of people cannot afford treatment. UNICEF adds that more than 900 schools have been closed due to concerns, affecting more than a million children.
In an effort to stabilize the situation and reduce the activities of gangs in Haiti, Kenya and the United States have established a group campaign. About 400 members of the police force from various countries led by Kenya have flocked to Port-Au-Prince. However, due to very little funding and a small number of gang members, this campaign was unsuccessful. According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), only 85 million dollars of the required 600 million dollars have been raised so far.
“We have a window of success that can be seen from the work that has already been done. Once the resources are available, there will be visible progress in the work,” said Kenyan President William Ruto.
The UN had requested $674 million for an aid response program focused on protection efforts and the distribution of essential services to affected communities. The UN Trust for the Multinational Security Support Fund received 67 million dollars, which is not enough to provide basic security services throughout the country. The UN is appealing for more donor contributions as the situation continues to worsen.
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© Inter Press Service (2024) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
