Haiti’s Crisis Deepens: More Than 700,000 Displaced as Violence Surges
The country teeters on the edge of collapse, with armed groups controlling vast areas and intensifying violence
- Gangs now control 85% of Port-au-Prince
- Extreme gang violence, including sexual assault, is being used as a tool of terror and control
- Over 700,000 people have been displaced this year
Haiti is facing an unprecedented crisis, with gang violence escalating to extreme levels and undermining the authority of the state, according to a UN official on Wednesday.
Miroslav Jenca, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia, and the Americas, warned that the nation is at a critical crossroads, as violence continues to devastate the country and threaten regional security.
“This is not just another wave of insecurity; it’s a dramatic escalation with no sign of stopping,” Jenca stated during a UN Security Council meeting.
He revealed that gangs now control 85% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, surrounding the city and attacking government buildings, using brutal tactics including sexual violence.
The humanitarian crisis is deepening, with over 20,000 people fleeing their homes in just four days this month, adding to the nearly 700,000 displaced by violence earlier in the year.
