Wed Nov 20 22:25:24 UTC 2024: ## UN Warns of Humanitarian Crisis as Gang Violence Grips Haiti
**Port-au-Prince, Haiti** – A surge in gang violence in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, has left at least 150 people dead and 20,000 displaced in the past week, prompting a dire warning from the United Nations. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) declared that the city’s four million residents are effectively “being held hostage,” with gangs controlling major roads in and out of the capital.
The violence, described by the UN as a “dramatic escalation,” has resulted in widespread casualties, with over half of the deaths attributed to clashes between gangs and police. The OHCHR’s Volker Turk stressed the urgent need to halt the violence and prevent further descent into chaos.
The crisis follows years of escalating gang activity, exacerbated by the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021. Subsequent attacks on prisons and state institutions fueled a political crisis, leading to the deployment of a Kenya-led multinational security support mission (MSS).
However, the MSS, currently comprising only 416 personnel, is proving insufficient to curb the violence. The US, a key backer of the mission, is pushing for increased funding and personnel, and for the mission to be transformed into a UN peacekeeping force. This proposal, while supported by Haitian leaders, faces opposition from China and Russia on the UN Security Council.
Despite the MSS deployment, Haitian armed groups are estimated to control at least 80% of Port-au-Prince. Recent attacks on the airport forced international airlines to suspend flights, further isolating the nation. The internal political situation remains unstable, with a recent change in interim prime ministers.
While some Haitian civil society groups cautiously welcome the MSS, many remain wary of UN intervention due to past negative experiences. They advocate for strengthening the Haitian national police force, tackling corruption, and prioritizing a Haitian-led political solution. The UN continues to express deep concern for the safety and human rights of civilians trapped in gang-controlled areas. The situation underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive and sustained international response to the escalating humanitarian crisis in Haiti.
First Piper 