Haiti: UN Expert Warns of Collapse Amid Gang Violence
By Darius Spearman (africanelements)
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Violence Spirals Out of Control
Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, has become a battleground with 300 gangs controlling 85% of the city and surrounding areas. Attacks on hospitals and schools spiked in 2024 as armed groups weaponized sexual violence to instill fear. Over 5,600 Haitians died in gang-related violence this year alone—a 20% increase from 2023 (Global Centre for R2P).
Law enforcement buckles under raids targeting police stations. Survivors report gang members using extreme tactics like burning victims alive to expand territorial control. Meanwhile, judicial systems crumble: only 3% of reported crimes result in prosecutions due to witness intimidation and collapsed infrastructure.
Humanitarian Crisis Reaches Breaking Point
Families sleep in makeshift tents across former schoolyards as displacement has tripled to over 1 million people since 2023. Hunger now affects 45% of Port-au-Prince residents, with food prices skyrocketing 200% due to blocked supply routes. Cholera resurged in overcrowded camps lacking clean water and sanitation (OHCHR).
Hospitals ration antibiotics while armed groups pillage medical shipments. UN reports indicate that just 35% of health facilities remain operational nationwide. Aid groups struggle to distribute supplies as roadblocks and fuel shortages paralyze logistics networks.
Children Bear the Brunt of Chaos
UN investigators confirm sexual violence against minors increased tenfold with gangs using rape as tool of territorial control. Over 800 children were forcibly recruited as combatants or spies in 2024—triple last year’s figures. Schools closed across 9 departments, leaving 300,000 students without education (Global Centre for R2P).
Child malnutrition rates approach famine thresholds while trauma counselors report suicidal ideation spiking among teens. Unaccompanied minors roam gang checkpoints begging for food, putting them at extreme risk of exploitation.
International Response Falls Short
The UN Security Council’s security mission remains underfunded, with only 1,500 of the 5,000 pledged personnel deployed. Kenyan police units face language barriers and intelligence gaps complicating operations. Humanitarian funding met just 25% of the requested $672 million through September 2024 (OHCHR).
Regional powers continue deportations from neighboring countries despite worsening conditions. Victims’ families demand arms embargo enforcement as social media videos show gangs flaunting new weapons shipments. Security analysts warn collapsing state institutions could create permanent terrorist safe havens.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Darius Spearman is a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College where he has taught since 2007. He authored Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. Connect with him at africanelements.org.
