In a hospital in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, two-year-old Shaina is connected to an intravenous drip as her mother, Venda, desperately seeks relief from her severe malnutrition. Shaina is among 760,000 children in Haiti at risk of famine.
Venda endured weeks of fear amid rampant gang violence in her neighborhood, preventing her from seeking medical help for her daughter.
Now inside the pediatric ward, she expresses a heart-wrenching plea: “I want to get proper care for my child, I don’t want to lose her.”
Haiti has been overwhelmed by gang violence since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, with 85% of the capital now controlled by gangs. This violence has led to an alarming increase in casualties, with reports indicating 5,000 deaths in the past year.
Tragically, even within hospital confines, patients are not safe from the violence. The medical director recounts police confrontations with gang members that have occurred in the emergency room.
Another heart-wrenching story emerges with Pierre, who was struck by a bullet while walking home, highlighting the danger civilians face amid the chaos.
In response to the escalating violence, the UN Security Council has authorized a Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) aimed at restoring stability in Haiti. Funded primarily by external sources, a Kenyan-led force has been on the ground, battling a significant gang presence that has left many areas impossible to patrol.
As the Kenyan police patrol the streets in armored vehicles, the stark reality of gang control is evident, with businesses shuttered and debris scattered across the roads.
Tragically, the convoy faces gunfire from gangs, illustrating the perilous situation confronting security forces. Despite their efforts, the streets remain rife with violence, as evidenced by brutal acts witnessed during patrols.
One officer expressed the toll the violence takes on both their personnel and the community, citing that the force of 400 they started with is vastly outnumbered by an estimated 12,000 armed gang members. Support pledges for additional forces have not yet materialized, posing a significant challenge to their operation.
Commander Godfrey Otunge remains hopeful, noting overwhelming support from the local population for their mission despite the difficult conditions.
Efforts to reclaim territory from gangs have also met fierce resistance, with reports of snipers targeting officials trying to secure areas previously under gang control.
The dire need for reinforcements is apparent as the situation worsens, with numerous neighborhoods inaccessible to law enforcement. Recent violence led to shocking casualty numbers, with reports indicating hundreds of civilians killed in a matter of days.
As many as 100 gang factions are suspected to be operating in the area, increasingly recruiting minors into their ranks, raising alarm about the future of Haiti’s youth.
One notorious gang, Gran Ravine, under the leadership of Ti Lapli, highlights the perilous conditions, known for violent tactics and kidnappings that further destabilize the community.
In an alarming admission, Ti Lapli states that his gang’s violence is a response to the government’s failure to provide economic stability, leading youths to seek refuge in criminal organizations.
With over 700,000 residents displaced by ongoing violence, many are forced to seek shelter in schools now functioning as camps for the internally displaced.
Negociant, a mother of five, shares her heartbreaking story of fleeing her home, now forced to survive in a cramped classroom with her children after gang takeover forced her to abandon her neighborhood.
