PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Over 33,000 individuals have fled Haiti’s capital in the past two weeks, seeking refuge from escalating gang violence, according to the latest report from the U.N.’s International Organization for Migration. Most of the displaced population has migrated to the southern region of Haiti, where conditions are relatively more peaceful compared to the turmoil in Port-au-Prince, home to an estimated 3 million residents.
The ongoing attacks and widespread insecurity have forced an increasing number of residents to leave the capital behind in search of safety in other provinces, risking dangerous journeys through gang-controlled routes, as highlighted in the report issued by IOM on Thursday. As the violence persists, the city remains paralyzed, with scores of civilians killed and thousands left homeless in the wake of attacks on police stations, the airport, and the massive prison break that released thousands of inmates.
Harangued by well-armed gangs, Haiti’s National Police force struggles to safeguard the population amidst the chaos. The crisis is exacerbated by challenges faced by police officers in the metropolitan area who have been unable to cash their paychecks for nearly a month, due to disruptions at the state bank that handles their payments.
In response to the dire situation, efforts are underway to facilitate payment processes for law enforcement personnel, with assurances from authorities that police officers and administrative staff will soon be able to cash their checks at various banking institutions. However, as the police force grapples with quelling gang violence, the exodus from the capital continues to grow.
More than 90% of those who fled between March 8-20 travelled by bus, passing through dangerous gang-controlled territories like Martissant, a route connecting Port-au-Prince to the relatively safer southern region of Haiti. The influx of internally displaced individuals is straining resources in provinces ill-equipped to accommodate the massive flow of people escaping the violence in the capital.
Moreover, the U.S. Department of State has evacuated over 130 American citizens from Port-au-Prince and almost 100 others from Cap-Haitien in northern Haiti amid escalating security concerns. With the government in disarray, efforts are underway to establish a transitional presidential council to appoint an interim prime minister and council of ministers amidst the political turmoil caused by the escalating violence.
As the crisis unfolds, Prime Minister Ariel Henry faces challenges, including being locked out of the country following the closure of airports while he was on an official trip overseas in early March. His efforts to secure the deployment of a U.N-backed police force have been delayed, adding another layer of complexity to the situation in Haiti.