Haiti’s leadership is sounding an urgent alarm over the dire security situation plaguing the nation. In a speech delivered at the United Nations, Laurent Saint-Cyr, Head of the Haitian Transitional Presidential Council, painted a grim picture of a country in turmoil, suggesting that Haiti is, in essence, “at war.” He appealed for immediate support from the international community to combat the rampant gang violence that has taken control of large portions of the nation.
Saint-Cyr described the daily violence that has resulted in countless innocent lives lost, with families living in constant fear. “Every day, innocent lives are snuffed out by bullets, fire and fear,” he stated. The humanitarian crisis has forced over a million people into internal displacement, decimating neighborhoods and obliterating the remnants of infrastructure and investment.
In addressing the UN General Assembly, he expressed concern for the nation’s youth, many of whom are facing despair, and highlighted the plight of women subjected to sexual violence. “Hundreds of girls and women subjected to rape will forever carry the physical and psychological scars of violence,” he lamented, marking the deeply entrenched social and health impacts linked to this escalating violence.
Saint-Cyr further condemned assaults on healthcare facilities, noting that hospitals have been vandalized and set ablaze, leading to critical shortfalls in medical care. The loss of life from preventable causes is exacerbated by the fleeing of healthcare professionals from the country. “This is the face of Haiti today, a contemporary Guernica, a human tragedy on America’s doorstep,” he insisted, calling for urgent international intervention.
In light of these challenges, the UN Security Council took steps in 2023 to address the crisis by approving the Multinational Security Mission, spearheaded by Kenya. However, the deployment has fallen short of expectations, with only 1,000 of the anticipated 2,500 troops and police officers currently on the ground. The results of this mission have been described as mixed, causing further concern regarding the effectiveness of these international efforts.
In response to the escalating violence, Washington is advocating for the reconfiguration of this mission into a more robust gang suppression force, aiming for a total of over 5,500 personnel, combining both police and military support. Saint-Cyr has voiced his endorsement of this proposal, urging immediate action to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.
He warned that Haiti represents the epicenter of a far-reaching regional threat, with powerful criminal networks intent on destabilizing the country and exerting control over its shared economies. As the poorest nation in the Americas, Haiti has long struggled with pervasive crime, including murders, kidnappings, and sexual violence, all exacerbated by ongoing political instability.
The crisis intensified dramatically at the beginning of 2024, culminating in the resignation of then-Prime Minister Ariel Henry as the gangs exerted ever greater influence over the capital, Port-au-Prince. The international community faces pressing challenges in addressing this escalating crisis, as the situation continues to evolve and complicate efforts for peace and stability in the region.
