U.S. Deploys Resources in Haiti as Humanitarian Crisis Worsens Due to Rising Gang Violence

By: Renelle Sandiford

On February 22, 2024, the U.S. Department of State released a statement to confirm their support for the Haitian government as they work to curb the rising gang violence in the country. The violence, which was effectuated by the assassination of the country’s president Jovanel Moïse in 2021, has intensified over the years, leading the Haitian population into a humanitarian crisis. 

According to statistics from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in 2024 there are approximately 5.5 million Haitians requiring humanitarian assistance. Women are being disproportionately affected, as rape cases were observed to have increased by 49 percent between 2022 and 2023. 

Hospitals and schools are functioning intermittently with scarce resources. This year will mark the fifth interrupted school year as an estimated 1 million students have stayed away from school to protect themselves from stray bullets and kidnappings. The influx of young adults and adolescents at home have created a larger recruitment pool for gang leaders.

The gangs responsible for these crimes are calling for Haiti’s prime minister, Ariel Henry, to relinquish his position. The prime minister, who was supposed to step down in February 2024, postponed elections claiming that the crime situation was too volatile for a transition of power at the time. 

The face of the resistance, former police officer, Jimmy ‘Barbecue’ Chérizier has conveyed that their ultimate goal is to change the way that Haiti is governed. He stated, “We have chosen to take our destiny in our own hands. The battle we are waging will not only topple Ariel’s government, it will change the whole system.” 

Conditions seem to be worsening, with two prisons being stormed, allowing thousands of prisoners to escape custody. The gangs are currently controlling about 80% of the country’s capital. As a result, the Haitian government declared a 3-day state of emergency on March 3, 2024 and turned to their international community for help to combat the country’s gang issue. 

The United States has claimed to have provided more than $300 million for food, potable water, health care, services for survivors of gender-based violence, and other resources over the last three years but have decided against deploying troops in the region. 

When asked to comment on the crisis, Haitian MD student at CUNY, Alain – Claude Compas said, “I think Haiti is unfortunately going through a rough period and we may genuinely need foreign powers’ help but not the help that bites back. Haiti has been struggling due to foreign powers and instability in the country so if anyone is to help in this time, it has to be stated that they won’t try to reap benefits after.”