Gang-related violence in Haiti has reached unprecedented levels, prompting international concern and criticism of the United States' response to the crisis.
According to Fox News, a new United Nations report reveals that gangs killed at least 5,600 people in Haiti during 2024, with an additional 3,700 individuals either injured or kidnapped, leading to mounting criticism of the Biden administration's approach to the situation.
The devastating toll of gang violence has transformed Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, into a battleground where criminal organizations now control approximately 85% of the territory. A particularly horrific incident in early December saw the massacre of 207 people by the Wharf Jérémie gang, with victims being mutilated and burned while others were thrown into the sea.
The Biden administration has allocated $629 million in financial and equipment support to Haiti, with $600 million already distributed. This figure stands in stark contrast to the more than $113 billion provided to Ukraine, raising questions about the prioritization of international aid.
The Heritage Foundation's senior policy analyst for Latin America, Andrés Martínez-Fernández, criticizes the administration's approach. He points out the lack of a coherent strategy in both Haiti and Ukraine, suggesting that the U.S. response has been fragmented and politically motivated.
The State Department has defended its efforts, highlighting a successful joint operation on December 15 involving the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) and Haitian police that resulted in the elimination of a high-profile gang leader. However, even State Department officials acknowledge the need for additional measures.
The MSS, which promised to deploy more than 2,500 personnel from various countries, has only managed to position approximately 500 personnel on the ground. These forces face severe challenges, including delayed payments and being vastly outnumbered by an estimated 12,000 gang members.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk shared his assessment of the situation:
These figures alone cannot capture the absolute horrors being perpetrated in Haiti, but they show the unremitting violence to which people are being subjected.
The possibility of transitioning the MSS mission to a United Nations Peacekeeping Operation faces significant obstacles, particularly from China's opposition to the Security Council. Martínez-Fernández expressed skepticism about such a transition, noting:
There are significant challenges regarding its feasibility, especially due to the lack of approval in the Security Council. China, in particular, has strongly opposed such efforts and I anticipate they will continue to veto them.
The UN report emphasizes the critical need for implementing Security Council sanctions and maintaining the arms embargo on Haiti. These measures aim to prevent weapons from reaching criminal gangs, whose actions have resulted in thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of displaced individuals.
The impact of gang violence extends beyond immediate casualties, affecting essential infrastructure and services. Schools and hospitals have been disrupted or destroyed, further destabilizing the country's already fragile social fabric.
The international community continues to grapple with finding effective solutions to restore security and stability in Haiti, as current efforts prove insufficient in containing the escalating violence.
Haiti's deteriorating security situation has reached a critical point, with over 5,600 deaths recorded in 2024 due to gang violence. The UN-backed Multinational Security Support Mission struggles with limited personnel and resources while facing an overwhelming number of gang members controlling most of Port-au-Prince. As the international community debates the path forward, the implementation of UN Security Council sanctions and arms embargo enforcement emerge as crucial steps toward addressing the humanitarian crisis and restoring stability in the Caribbean nation.
