Haiti: Spiralling Gang Violence Displaces Over One Million
Published: January 14, 2025
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Spiralling gang violence has left more than one million people displaced in Haiti, creating a humanitarian crisis that threatens to destabilize the already fragile nation.
According to the United Nations, the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Haiti has increased by more than 600,000 in the past year alone. The vast majority of these IDPs are fleeing violence between armed gangs that control vast swaths of territory in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and other major cities.
Gang activity has surged in Haiti in recent years, fueled by political instability and the proliferation of small arms. The gangs, which are often involved in drug trafficking and other illegal activities, have become increasingly brazen in their attacks on civilians.
In the past year, gangs have carried out mass killings, kidnappings, and other atrocities. In one particularly horrific incident in October 2024, a gang attacked a displacement camp, killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens more.
The violence has forced hundreds of thousands of Haitians to flee their homes. Many have sought refuge in displacement camps, where they live in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. Others have fled to neighboring countries, such as the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas.
The humanitarian crisis caused by the displacement is overwhelming Haiti’s already weak infrastructure. Displacement camps are struggling to provide basic services, such as food, water, and shelter. There is also a growing risk of disease outbreaks, as IDPs live in close quarters with limited access to healthcare.
The international community has condemned the violence and called for an immediate end to the displacement. The United Nations has deployed a peacekeeping force to Haiti, but the force has been unable to stem the violence.
The Haitian government has also struggled to address the crisis. President Jovenel Moïse has been accused of failing to protect civilians and of having links to some gangs. In October 2024, Moïse was forced to resign after mass protests erupted in the capital.
The international community is now calling for a new government in Haiti that is committed to addressing the violence and the humanitarian crisis. However, it remains unclear how this will be achieved, as Haiti remains deeply divided and politically unstable.
The situation in Haiti is a tragedy that has created a humanitarian crisis and threatened the stability of the entire region. The international community must act swiftly to help the Haitian people and to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.
Haiti: spiralling gang violence has left more than one million displaced
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