What's happened
Haiti is experiencing a severe escalation in gang violence, with armed groups controlling 85% of Port-au-Prince. The situation has led to the suspension of critical humanitarian services, including those by Médecins Sans Frontières, leaving many without essential medical care. The recruitment of children into gangs has surged amid deepening poverty and political instability.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Independent, the U.N. has raised the alert level for protection against sexual exploitation in Chad, highlighting the vulnerability of refugees. Meanwhile, the New York Times reports that many international aid organizations are suspending operations in Haiti due to escalating gang violence, leaving civilians feeling abandoned. Médecins Sans Frontières expressed heartbreak over halting services, emphasizing the dire healthcare situation in Port-au-Prince. The Guardian notes that the gangs' control has led to a humanitarian disaster, with hospitals overwhelmed and essential supplies running low. The AP highlights the alarming trend of child recruitment into gangs, exacerbated by poverty and violence, indicating a deepening crisis in Haiti.
How we got here
Haiti has been in turmoil since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, leading to political instability and a power vacuum. Gangs have exploited this chaos, increasing their influence and control over the capital, Port-au-Prince, while humanitarian organizations struggle to operate safely.
More on these topics
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Haiti, officially the Republic of Haiti formerly founded as Hayti, is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean Sea, to the east of Cuba and Jamaica and south of The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos
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Port-au-Prince is the capital and most populous city of Haiti. The city's population was estimated at 987,310 in 2015 with the metropolitan area estimated at a population of 2,618,894.
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