Latest news with #LeslieVoltaire
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Haiti humanitarian crisis worsening as violence escalates, says aid group
(Reuters) - The humanitarian situation in Haiti is dramatically worsening, aid group Save the Children said, with underfunded security forces increasingly overwhelmed by powerful gangs and capital Port-au-Prince on the brink of collapse. In the first three months of this year, more than 78,500 people were displaced, more than double that of the same period a year ago, according to Save the Children. "Children in Haiti are trapped in a nightmare," the group's Haiti head Chantal Sylvie Imbeault said in a statement on Tuesday. Armed groups are tightening their grip over routes out of the capital and control nearly all neighborhoods in the city, she said. Leslie Voltaire, who held the rotating presidency of Haiti's nine-member transitional presidential council from October to March, is in Honduras for a Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) summit, in which Haiti will try to shore up regional support for its security efforts. The transitional council has lost popular backing in recent months as armed groups have extended their reach. Last week, thousands of Haitians took to the streets in protest. On Thursday, Fritz Alphonse Jean, the current head of the transition council, announced that the council was teaming up to tackle gangs with members of an armed paramilitary group who once tried to overthrow the government, in a sign of authorities' increasing desperation to bring violence under control. Once an armed environmental agency, the Brigade for the Security of Protected Areas has evolved into a paramilitary group. Its members have clashed with police and are allied with former rebel leader Guy Philippe, who led a 2004 uprising against then-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Philippe sought to make a political comeback after being deported to Haiti in 2023 following imprisonment in the U.S. for money laundering derived from drug trafficking. The international response to Haiti's crisis has been led by Kenya, which first deployed police officers last June for a multinational mission. There are currently around 1,000 security personnel with the mission, about three-quarters of them from Kenya. After clashes with gangs in recent weeks, Kenyan officers have suffered injuries and at least one possible death. At the same time, "governments are making drastic cuts to foreign aid," Save the Children said. U.S. President Donald Trump temporarily imposed a blanket freeze in foreign aid funds when he took office in January, though more than $64 million was later cleared to back Haitian police and the Kenyan-led mission.
Reuters
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Haiti humanitarian crisis worsening as violence escalates, says aid group
April 8 (Reuters) - The humanitarian situation in Haiti is dramatically worsening, aid group Save the Children said, with underfunded security forces increasingly overwhelmed by powerful gangs and capital Port-au-Prince on the brink of collapse. In the first three months of this year, more than 78,500 people were displaced, more than double that of the same period a year ago, according to Save the Children. here. "Children in Haiti are trapped in a nightmare," the group's Haiti head Chantal Sylvie Imbeault said in a statement on Tuesday. Armed groups are tightening their grip over routes out of the capital and control nearly all neighborhoods in the city, she said. Leslie Voltaire, who held the rotating presidency of Haiti's nine-member transitional presidential council from October to March, is in Honduras for a Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) summit, in which Haiti will try to shore up regional support for its security efforts. The transitional council has lost popular backing in recent months as armed groups have extended their reach. Last week, thousands of Haitians took to the streets in protest. On Thursday, Fritz Alphonse Jean, the current head of the transition council, announced that the council was teaming up to tackle gangs with members of an armed paramilitary group who once tried to overthrow the government, in a sign of authorities' increasing desperation to bring violence under control. Once an armed environmental agency, the Brigade for the Security of Protected Areas has evolved into a paramilitary group. Its members have clashed with police and are allied with former rebel leader Guy Philippe, who led a 2004 uprising against then-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Philippe sought to make a political comeback after being deported to Haiti in 2023 following imprisonment in the U.S. for money laundering derived from drug trafficking. The international response to Haiti's crisis has been led by Kenya, which first deployed police officers last June for a multinational mission. There are currently around 1,000 security personnel with the mission, about three-quarters of them from Kenya. After clashes with gangs in recent weeks, Kenyan officers have suffered injuries and at least one possible death. At the same time, "governments are making drastic cuts to foreign aid," Save the Children said. U.S. President Donald Trump temporarily imposed a blanket freeze in foreign aid funds when he took office in January, though more than $64 million was later cleared to back Haitian police and the Kenyan-led mission.
Voice of America
08-03-2025
- Politics
- Voice of America
Haiti swears in new leader amid din of gang violence
The council tasked to prepare eventual presidential elections in Haiti swore in a new leader Friday, as the country continues to struggle with persistent gang violence. Fritz Alphonse Jean, an economist and former central bank governor, replaces Leslie Voltaire in the rotating presidency of the transitional presidential council, formed in 2024 after a violent gang siege of the capital that forced then Prime Minister Ariel Henry to resign. During a ceremony in Port-au-Prince, Jean described what Haiti is currently facing as a "war" and asked people to be united to address the security crisis. "Our country is at war today," he said. "We need to be united to win this battle." The transitional presidential council works with Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime and, amid its tasks, is helping run the country and organizing general elections, aimed for February 2026. The country, and in particular the capital, faces constant gang violence. The United Nations estimates that gangs already control 85% of Port-au-Prince. That is despite the presence of a U.N.-backed mission led by Kenyan forces, which suffered a loss a few days ago in a fight with gang members. The new leader of the transitional council asked for a minute of silence for the Haitian officers and the Kenyan police who have died facing the gangs. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has proposed opening a U.N. office that would provide drones, fuel, ground and air transportation and other nonlethal support to the Kenyan-led mission. More than 5,600 people were reported killed across Haiti in 2024 — 1,000 more than the previous year, according to the U.N.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New leader takes over Haiti's transitional presidential council as violence persists
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — The council tasked to prepare eventual presidential elections in Haiti swore in a new leader Friday, as the country keeps struggling with a persistent gang violence. Fritz Alphonse Jean, an economist and former central bank governor, replaces Leslie Voltaire in the rotating presidency of the transitional presidential council, formed in 2024 after a violent gang siege of the capital that forced then Prime Minister Ariel Henry to resign. During a ceremony in Port-au-Prince, Jean described what Haiti is currently facing as a 'war' and asked people to be united to address the security crisis. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. 'Our country is at war today,' he said. 'We need to be united to win this battle.' The transitional presidential council works with Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé and, amid its tasks, is helping run the country and organizing general elections, aimed for February 2026. The country, and in particular the capital, face constant gang violence. The U.N. estimates that gangs already control 85% of Port-au-Prince. That is despite the presence of a U.N.-backed mission led by Kenyan forces, which suffered a loss a few days ago in a fight with gang members. The new leader of the transitional council asked for a minute of silence for the Haitian officers and the Kenyan police who have died facing the gangs. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has proposed opening a U.N. office that would provide drones, fuel, ground and air transportation and other nonlethal support to the Kenyan-led mission. More than 5,600 people were reported killed across Haiti in 2024, or 1,000 more deaths than reported the previous year, according to the U.N.
Associated Press
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
New leader takes over Haiti's transitional presidential council as violence persists
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — The council tasked to prepare eventual presidential elections in Haiti swore in a new leader Friday, as the country keeps struggling with a persistent gang violence. Fritz Alphonse Jean, an economist and former central bank governor, replaces Leslie Voltaire in the rotating presidency of the transitional presidential council, formed in 2024 after a violent gang siege of the capital that forced then Prime Minister Ariel Henry to resign. During a ceremony in Port-au-Prince, Jean described what Haiti is currently facing as a 'war' and asked people to be united to address the security crisis. 'Our country is at war today,' he said. 'We need to be united to win this battle.' The transitional presidential council works with Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé and, amid its tasks, is helping run the country and organizing general elections, aimed for February 2026. The country, and in particular the capital, face constant gang violence. The U.N. estimates that gangs already control 85% of Port-au-Prince. That is despite the presence of a U.N.-backed mission led by Kenyan forces, which suffered a loss a few days ago in a fight with gang members. The new leader of the transitional council asked for a minute of silence for the Haitian officers and the Kenyan police who have died facing the gangs. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has proposed opening a U.N. office that would provide drones, fuel, ground and air transportation and other nonlethal support to the Kenyan-led mission.
