Violence took hold in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, after the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry in early March.
Henry, who is now in Puerto Rico following the airport closure, addressed the nation on March 11 detailing how his government will leave power following the establishment of a transitional council.
“We deplore the numerous losses of human life. The government that I lead cannot remain indifferent to this situation,” Henry said during his video statement. “As I have always said, no sacrifice is too great for our common homeland Haiti.”
Henry was on an official trip to Kenya in late February to help secure support from the U.N. for a security mission to help police in Haiti when gunmen attacked the nation’s capital, leaving him barred from the country.
Amidst the violence occurring, including homicide, looting and destruction of private and public establishments, Henry called for peace and stability for the nation.
While Haiti has not selected an interim prime minister, Caribbean leaders are set to submit nominees for a transitional presidential council that will select Haiti’s future interim leader. Until then, Henry will still hold his position.
According to an article by the Associated Press, more than 33,000 civilians fled Port-au-Prince within a span of two weeks. Many fled to Haiti’s southern region, where rates of violence are lower.
Those who are unable to flee the city have been displaced and faced with homelessness, while others were killed by gang members as they have seized control over 80% of the city.
The civilians of Port-au-Prince have been pleading for help from local law enforcement, though they are understaffed and overstepped by the gangs.
Gangs have targeted regular civilians while raiding neighborhoods, schools, hospitals, police stations and opening fire within the airport. In addition, they released over 4,000 inmates from two of Haiti’s biggest prisons.
The U.S. Embassy announced that it would halt all travel to Haiti, urging Americans to flee the country as soon as possible. The Biden administration refused to deploy troops, but offered money and support.
Gang violence and political turmoil have plagued Haiti for years. Presidential elections have not been held since 2016 after the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse.
Haiti currently has a population of 11 million people. It is ranked as the most impoverished nation in Latin America, and struggles with widespread economic and environmental challenges— including the 2010 earthquakewhich claimed the lives of 220,000 people.
