The United States embassy in Haiti is preparing to evacuate some of its non-essential diplomatic staff as a powerful gang coalition tightens its grip on Haiti’s capital. Gunmen targeted two of the US embassy’s vehicles this week, though no personnel were injured. Other foreign officials have also come under fire in Haiti, including a marked UN helicopter with 18 people on board that was hit by gunfire. The deteriorating security situation has prompted reports that 20 non-essential diplomatic staff will leave the country in the coming days, with the embassy remaining open.
The surge in violence in Haiti is being driven by a powerful gang coalition known as Viv Ansanm, which has been carrying out attacks on numerous towns outside the capital. These attacks have resulted in displacement of thousands of Haitians, with over 700,000 already forced out of their homes. The gangs have been accused of recruiting child soldiers into their ranks and are using brutal violence to maintain control over various neighborhoods. The conflict has also fueled famine-level hunger in many parts of the country.
The United Nations has authorized an international police force to help Haiti’s police regain control from the gangs, but the mission lacks resources and has not produced significant results. Haiti’s leadership has requested the UN to convert the force into a formal peacekeeping mission to provide additional resources. However, this initiative was blocked by China and Russia. The UN’s independent human rights expert for Haiti has highlighted the insufficient security forces to combat the gangs, allowing them to hold Port-au-Prince hostage and isolate the city from the rest of the country.
Earlier this year, Haiti’s international airport was shut down for nearly three months after gangs attacked the perimeter and fired at planes on the tarmac. In response to the security threats, the US military airlifted non-essential embassy personnel from the country during a state of emergency. Additional security personnel were also deployed to the embassy to enhance security. The escalating violence and attacks on foreign officials have raised concerns about the safety of diplomatic staff and civilians in Haiti.
The UN has reported that the latest attacks by the gangs have resulted in more than 100 people being killed in a single incident in the town of Pont-Sonde. The violence has also led to the displacement of an additional 10,000 Haitians in the past week. Many neighborhoods in Haiti are now under the control of gangs, who are using brutal violence to maintain their dominance. The conflict has caused significant humanitarian challenges, including famine-level hunger in various parts of the country.
Efforts to address the security challenges in Haiti have been hampered by the lack of adequate resources and international support. The current international police force in Haiti lacks the capacity to effectively combat the gangs, leading to a continuation of the violence and instability in the country. Despite calls for converting the force into a formal peacekeeping mission to bolster resources, the initiative has faced opposition from certain countries. The ongoing conflict in Haiti has created a dire humanitarian situation, with significant challenges in providing assistance and protection to the affected population.
