In brief
The impact of escalating gang violence in Haiti is starkly illustrated by the plight of a mother seeking treatment for her malnourished daughter amidst an unrelenting conflict that has left 760,000 children at risk of famine. Security forces, led by Kenyan troops, are engaged in a daunting battle to restore order in a city where 85% is controlled by gangs, facing overwhelming numbers and a severe humanitarian crisis.
On the ground in Port-au-Prince, mothers like Venda are caught in an emotional turmoil, hoping for relief for their malnourished children amid Haiti's spiraling gang violence. Two-year-old Shaina is in desperate need of care, showing signs of acute malnutrition that has left her emaciated. Stricken with fear from ongoing gang warfare, Venda had spent weeks trapped in her home before finally making it to one of the very few functioning hospitals, now struggling to cope with the high influx of victims from the violence.Haiti's crisis has worsened since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, with an estimated 85% of the capital now under the control of armed gangs. The violent toll is staggering, with the United Nations reporting that over 5,000 people have died because of the escalating conflict this year. Hiding within these hospital walls offers no refuge, as armed clashes spill into the wards, turning spaces meant for healing into battlegrounds.Among the injured is Pierre, who sustained severe wounds while caught in gang crossfire. “A stable government and better youth programs could deter young men from joining gangs,” he said, pointing to systemic failures that have enabled such violence. In a response to the worsening situation, the UN approved the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) in late 2023 to combat the escalating violence, led by Kenyan forces who have now been on site for several months.Patrolling the desolate streets of Port-au-Prince, the Kenyan officers navigate through blockades and debris that illustrate the city’s state of decay. Under heavy fire, they attempt to uphold law and order but are met with the brutal realities of gang rule, which has left them feeling exhausted and undersupplied. As most neighborhoods are virtually inaccessible to police, the scale of the gangs’ control becomes apparent as the town reveals scenes of violence and chaos.Commander Godfrey Otunge leads the Kenyan forces but faces immense pressure as the mission’s expected reinforcements are delayed. “The local community calls for support that extends beyond our current capabilities,” he noted, as gang-related violence continues to escalate in their absence. The assassinations and shootings by rival gangs illustrate the dire need for increased military presence, especially in the most vulnerable neighborhoods.The sheer scale of the humanitarian crisis is evidenced by families like Negociant’s, who find refuge in school buildings as internally displaced persons. Fleeing from relentless gang violence in her neighborhood, she reflects on the instability that forces residents like her to seek shelter far from their own homes. Many face a grim future as children are increasingly recruited into gangs, driven by poverty and lack of opportunity—a situation compounded by the gangs’ control over everyday life.In a landscape marked by trauma and fear, underlying economic collapse fuels the cycle of violence. The leaders of these gangs, such as Ti Lapli of the Gran Ravine, exploit suffering to expand their ranks. The misery of communities torn asunder creates a troubling tableau of survival in a nation that cries out for peace, stability, and basic human rights.
