Gangs have laid siege to Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, leaving the population in a perpetual state of fear. Kidnappings are a daily occurrence, and the gangs' control has choked off essential supplies to the rest of the country.
The UN estimates gangs now control 80% of the capital. This grip tightened even further last week during coordinated attacks that saw police stations burned and prisoners freed. In response, Haiti's government declared a state of emergency.
Popular Outrage
Haitians blame Prime Minister Ariel Henry for allowing the situation to deteriorate. Years of government inaction have enabled the gangs’ rise, and many see Henry's refusal to hold elections as a further betrayal. Protests demanding his resignation are frequent.
"We can't take it anymore," one protester declared. "We have nothing. My family lives in squalor, and I can't find work or food."
Even some gang members are horrified by the violence they're forced to commit.
Mounting Crisis
With the police under-equipped and overwhelmed, Haiti's humanitarian situation is dire. Food and fuel are scarce, prices are spiraling out of control, and malnutrition is rampant. Conditions are so desperate that some residents of the capital have fled in search of a better life elsewhere.
The international community has condemned the gang violence. Prime Minister Henry has requested a UN-backed foreign intervention force, but it remains unclear if or when such a force will arrive. If nothing changes soon, experts warn that Haiti may collapse completely.