The already fragile security and humanitarian situation in Haiti has taken a sharp turn for the worse, driven by a surge in gang violence. On Monday, Haiti’s Civil Protection agency confirmed that at least two women, one of whom was eight months pregnant, had been killed in gang attacks in Port-au-Prince. These attacks, centered in the Solino district, have also forced over 5,000 residents to flee their homes, highlighting the deepening crisis that threatens to consume the capital city and much of the country.
This latest eruption of violence comes against a backdrop of intensifying fighting between rival gangs in Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas. The violence has added to Haiti’s already dire humanitarian crisis, marked by widespread displacement, insecurity, and political instability.
A Country Overwhelmed by Gangs
Haiti has long struggled with gang violence, but the problem has escalated dramatically in recent years. With the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, political instability worsened, creating a vacuum that emboldened armed groups to expand their influence across the country. Today, gangs control more than 80 percent of Port-au-Prince, and major roads leading in and out of the city are often under their control. These gangs are not just a product of the country’s economic and political crisis, but they are also key drivers of it, contributing to the collapse of law and order.
The violence has intensified in the last few weeks, with gangs launching coordinated attacks on several neighborhoods in the capital. The Solino district, where Monday’s killings occurred, has been one of the areas hardest hit. The “Viv Ansanm” (“Living Together”) coalition, a powerful gang alliance, was responsible for the most recent attacks, according to the Civil Protection agency’s report.
Residents of Solino have been living in terror as gang members ransack homes, burn vehicles, and target civilians. Thick plumes of smoke rising from houses set ablaze by gang members have become a common sight. The two women who lost their lives on Monday were killed inside their homes, demonstrating the indiscriminate nature of the violence that has claimed the lives of both the vulnerable and the defenseless.
Schools Under Siege
The violence is not limited to residential areas. Schools and places that once offered relative safety are now in the crosshairs of gang attacks. In the commune of L’Estère, located north of Port-au-Prince, gangs attacked a school, killing a parent and injuring several students. This brutal act adds to the growing list of atrocities committed by gangs, who have not hesitated to target schools, health clinics, and other public spaces, leaving many children without access to education and medical care.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that more than 700,000 Haitians have been displaced due to gang violence, with children comprising half of that number. Schools that do manage to stay open are struggling to provide education under the threat of violence, with many families choosing to keep their children at home to ensure their safety.
Deadly Consequences of Gang Warfare
Haiti’s violence-ridden environment continues to claim lives on an almost daily basis. At the start of October, a devastating gang attack on the town of Pont-Sonde resulted in at least 109 deaths and over 40 injuries. These numbers are but a fraction of the death toll attributed to gang violence across the country. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has estimated that at least 3,661 people have been killed in Haiti since January 2024 alone, underscoring the catastrophic toll this unchecked violence is taking on the Haitian population.
The Haitian people are also suffering from other consequences of gang warfare, including widespread displacement, hunger, and lack of access to basic services. As gangs seize control of key transport routes, it has become nearly impossible to deliver food, medical supplies, and humanitarian aid to areas most in need. With gang control spreading across the city and beyond, much of the country is slowly being strangled by these violent groups.
International Response: A UN-backed Mission Led by Kenya
In response to Haiti’s spiraling crisis, the international community has made efforts to assist the overwhelmed Haitian government and its struggling police force. A United Nations-backed multinational mission, led by Kenya, was deployed during the summer of 2024 to support Haitian authorities. The mission’s primary goal is to provide reinforcements to the Haitian National Police, which has been severely outgunned and outmanned by the gangs.
However, the mission’s deployment has been slow and under-resourced. As of October, the mission has only deployed a fraction of its promised 2,500 police officers, leaving many areas of Port-au-Prince without the security support needed to curb the violence. While this mission may eventually help restore some level of stability, the situation on the ground remains dire, with gangs continuing to launch attacks and expand their control.
The Haitian government, meanwhile, has struggled to regain a foothold in key areas, leaving many citizens with little faith in the state’s ability to protect them. The police force, though determined, is severely outmatched, lacking both the personnel and resources to combat the well-armed and organized gangs that dominate the country.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The intensifying violence has also exacerbated Haiti’s already overwhelming humanitarian crisis. According to the United Nations and international aid organizations, the country is on the brink of a full-scale humanitarian disaster. With over 700,000 people displaced, many are living in precarious conditions, with limited access to clean water, food, shelter, and healthcare.
The violence has also stymied international aid efforts, as many parts of the country remain inaccessible due to gang control. Humanitarian agencies have warned that the displacement crisis could worsen in the coming months if the violence is not brought under control. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other agencies are working to provide emergency aid to displaced families, but the scale of the crisis is overwhelming.
Haiti is also grappling with food insecurity, with the United Nations estimating that over four million people are in need of urgent food assistance. The lack of safe transport routes means that food distribution is becoming increasingly difficult, and many families are going hungry.
A Way Forward?
The situation in Haiti presents no easy solutions. Gangs have entrenched themselves in nearly every aspect of Haitian life, from the economy to politics, making any meaningful progress toward peace and stability elusive. The international community’s efforts, including the UN-backed mission led by Kenya, offer a glimmer of hope, but without significant reinforcements and resources, it is unlikely that the Haitian police will be able to regain control of the country anytime soon.
In the meantime, the people of Haiti continue to bear the brunt of the violence. For those living in Port-au-Prince and other affected areas, each day is a struggle to survive, as gangs wage war over territory and resources with no regard for human life.
Haiti’s future remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: without decisive action from both the Haitian government and the international community, the country’s humanitarian and security crisis will only deepen, leaving millions of Haitians in peril.
