Haiti is currently hit by a severe crisis, marked by increased gang violence, which has highly exacerbated the humanitarian situation in the country. Violence has resulted in displacement and insecurity, where more than 700,000 people have been displaced. Among these displaced individuals, about 50% are children, who thus fall into a category highly vulnerable to exploitation and malnutrition, along with a lack of other basic services like education, health, and shelter.
These are the roots of the crisis that trace from the political instability which deepened after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021. In the power vacuum following his death, large parts of the capital Port-au-Prince fell further under the control of gangs who often fight turf wars, extort money, and kidnap people. The Haitian National Police are getting beat down and remain unable to recapture the areas from those two majorly armed groups who have turned out to be the de facto authorities in some other areas.
This violence has paralyzed life in Haiti, closed major supply routes, and stopped humanitarian organizations from reaching people in dire need. This situation forced schools and health facilities to close down or operate under very dangerous circumstances, further aggravating the sufferings of those displaced.
This violence situation has, in addition, worsened the already very bad food insecurity crisis. According to reports, over 4.9 million Haitians are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Food prices skyrocket because of disrupted trade routes, making basic items less affordable to families.
The Haitian government has called for international assistance to respond to the crisis; a multinational peacekeeping force has been demanded to help restore order. In October 2023, the United Nations approved a multinational security mission under Kenyan leadership to support the Haitian police against gang activities. But the bottom line from this mission is yet to be seen, and many are worried that if political stability does not last, accompanied by economic support, then the situation regarding humanitarian needs in Haiti will only worsen.
