Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, is at the brink of total collapse. That heavily armed gangs are tightening their grip on the city. The city's mayor, Youri Chevry, has admitted that his government controls only about 30% of Port-au-Prince, with several key areas engulfed in violence. Since the beginning of February 2024, a criminal insurrection has run amok. According to the United Nations, at a minimum 60,000 of those residents have been driven out of their homes.
A national coalition of gangs known as Viv Ansanm (Live Together) recently seized control of the capital. As a consequence, Port-au-Prince now faces an extremely dangerous intersection. Gang control has replaced once-safe enclaves such as Solino and Nazon. History of colonial plunder, foreign meddling, harsh dictatorships, political graft, and calamities like the 2010 earthquake further aggravate the city’s disintegration.
"Fear is written all over people’s faces," said Rosy Auguste Ducéna, capturing the prevailing mood among residents who live in constant fear.
The desperate plight has led to comparisons with Saigon, Kabul, and Phnom Penh. These cities were previously flooded with violent armed groups during the height of the Iraq war. The city's police force is ill-equipped to combat Haiti's powerful and politically connected gangs. A police officer noted the strategic use of suicide drones to target gang leaders in hard-to-reach shantytowns, stating, "With kamikaze drones we can reach places police officers can’t go."
"It feels like the population is suffering while the authorities stand by and do nothing," lamented Ducéna.
The now deepening humanitarian crisis has further put aid workers – UN and non-UN – at risk. Médecins Sans Frontières staff came under heavy fire. At the same time, confusion and anarchy reigned as protestors burned Haiti’s oldest radio station. At the same time, residents are in a dire position with all routes from the capital still cut off by gangs.
"Every exit from the capital is under the control of armed groups," declared Duval, emphasizing the severity of the predicament.
The looming threat of Port-au-Prince falling into gang hands is palpable, as articulated by William O’Neill: "The sense of fear is palpable. The sense [that] the city is on the edge of totally falling into the hands of the gangs is really strong."
In recent days, hundreds of ministries, public services and private families have fled regions once deemed sanctuaries. The city that had once been a beacon of peace is now a hellhole rivaling any war torn country.
"In recent hours, countless ministries, public services and families have fled areas that were once considered safe," Duval reported.
Even though they are out-manned and out-gunned, some locals are not willing to give up without a fight. A protester voiced their determination: "We are ready to die to defend our neighborhoods, our families, and our homes. We are ready to take responsibility. If we must die, we will die standing, without surrendering."
"It’s either the gangs take us, or we take them," stated Françoise Ponticq, reflecting on the grim reality facing Port-au-Prince's inhabitants.
The international community continues to look over the shoulders of government actors as this crisis develops. The highly dangerous and unstable status quo requires immediate and bold action to avert further destabilization and a worsening humanitarian catastrophe.