Latest news with #SouthernHaiti
Russia Today
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
UN warns Haiti's capital nearing collapse as gangs tighten grip
Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, is on the brink of total collapse, with heavily armed gangs now controlling most of the city, a senior UN official has warned. The official stressed that violence continues to escalate across the Caribbean nation, while the international response remains slow and fragmented. Haiti has been without a president since the assassination of Jovenel Moise in July 2021, leaving a power vacuum that has allowed armed gangs to expand their influence unchecked. In the absence of a functioning central government and with weakened state institutions, the armed groups have grown in strength, seizing territory and increasingly operating as the de facto authorities across the country, particularly in the capital. 'Organized criminal groups have gained practically total control of the capital – approximately 90% of Port-au-Prince is under their grip,' Ghada Fathi Waly, the executive director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, told the UN Security Council on Wednesday. She added that the gangs 'are continuing to establish their presence along strategic roads and border regions,' expanding attacks not only into surrounding areas but also into previously peaceful territories. 'Southern Haiti, which until recently was insulated from the violence, has seen a sharp increase in gang-related incidents,' Waly said. 'And in the east, criminal groups are exploiting land routes, including key crossings like Belladere and Malpasse, where attacks against police and customs officials have been reported.' She said the Haitian state's ability to govern is rapidly eroding as gangs tighten their grip, triggering a cascade of consequences. Criminal groups are filling the void left by the absence or breakdown of public services, setting up their own 'parallel governance structures.' Their control over key trade routes has crippled legal commerce, driving up the cost of essential goods such as cooking fuel and rice. Earlier this week, the UN's International Organization for Migration reported that the ongoing crisis has displaced a record 1.3 million people across the Caribbean state. The IOM noted that the number of makeshift shelters has skyrocketed by more than 70%. According to UN statistics, at least 5,600 people were killed in gang-related incidents in 2024 alone. According to AP, the Kenyan-led, UN-supported mission in Haiti, which arrived in 2024 to help curb gang violence, has remained understaffed and underfunded, with only around 40% of the planned 2,500 personnel currently deployed. The news agency also noted that in February, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres proposed providing drones, fuel, transport, and other non-lethal assistance to bolster the mission, but the plan has stalled in the Security Council.
Fox News
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Violent criminal gangs have 'near-total control' of nation's capital, UN says
Haiti's criminal gangs have exerted "near-total control" over the capital, as escalating violence pushes the Caribbean nation "closer to the brink," senior U.N. officials warned Wednesday. Gangs control an estimated 90% of Port-au-Prince, Ghada Fathy Waly, executive director of the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime, told the U.N. Security Council. Waly noted that gangs are expanding into previously peaceful areas. "Southern Haiti, which until recently was insulated from the violence, has seen a sharp increase in gang-related incidents," she said. "And in the east, criminal groups are exploiting land routes, including key crossings like Belladere and Malpasse, where attacks against police and customs officials have been reported." U.N. Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenca informed the council that "the ongoing gang encirclement of Port-au-Prince" and their strengthened foothold in the capital and beyond is "pushing the situation closer to the brink." "Without increased action by the international community, the total collapse of state presence in the capital could become a very real scenario," he warned. Gangs have gained power since President Jovenel Moïse's assassination in July 2021, previously controlling 85% of the capital. Haiti has not had a president since the assassination. A new U.N. report covering last October through February highlights that gangs have exploited political turmoil and Haiti's disorganized security response, saying competing political ambitions and corruption allegations within transitional governing bodies have hindered action. "While the expansion of territorial control brings gangs additional sources of revenue and bargaining power," the U.N. experts said in the report, "these attacks are also backed by individuals trying to destabilize the political transition for their own political goals." The U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory for Haiti in September 2024, warning Americans against visiting due to kidnapping, crime, civil unrest and limited healthcare. In May, the Trump administration designated two of Haiti's most powerful gang networks, Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif, as foreign terrorist organizations and specially designated global terrorists.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Violent criminal gangs have 'near-total control' of world nation's capital, UN says
Haiti's criminal gangs have exerted "near-total control" over the capital, as escalating violence pushes the Caribbean nation "closer to the brink," senior U.N. officials warned Wednesday. Gangs control an estimated 90% of Port-au-Prince, Ghada Fathy Waly, executive director of the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime, told the U.N. Security Council. Waly noted that gangs are expanding into previously peaceful areas. "Southern Haiti, which until recently was insulated from the violence, has seen a sharp increase in gang-related incidents," she said. "And in the east, criminal groups are exploiting land routes, including key crossings like Belladere and Malpasse, where attacks against police and customs officials have been reported." U.N. Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenca informed the council that "the ongoing gang encirclement of Port-au-Prince" and their strengthened foothold in the capital and beyond is "pushing the situation closer to the brink." Federal Judge Blocks Trump's Immigration Policy In Shocking Decision On Haitian Protections "Without increased action by the international community, the total collapse of state presence in the capital could become a very real scenario," he warned. Read On The Fox News App Gangs have gained power since President Jovenel Moïse's assassination in July 2021, previously controlling 85% of the capital. Haiti has not had a president since the assassination. A new U.N. report covering last October through February highlights that gangs have exploited political turmoil and Haiti's disorganized security response, saying competing political ambitions and corruption allegations within transitional governing bodies have hindered action. Blackwater Founder Erik Prince Teams With Haitian Government To Fight Gang Violence "While the expansion of territorial control brings gangs additional sources of revenue and bargaining power," the U.N. experts said in the report, "these attacks are also backed by individuals trying to destabilize the political transition for their own political goals." The U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory for Haiti in September 2024, warning Americans against visiting due to kidnapping, crime, civil unrest and limited healthcare. In May, the Trump administration designated two of Haiti's most powerful gang networks, Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif, as foreign terrorist organizations and specially designated global terrorists. Fox News Digital's Jasmine Baehr and The Associated Press contributed to this article source: Violent criminal gangs have 'near-total control' of world nation's capital, UN says
Fox News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Violent criminal gangs have 'near-total control' of world nation's capital, UN says
Haiti's criminal gangs have exerted "near-total control" over the capital, as escalating violence pushes the Caribbean nation "closer to the brink," senior U.N. officials warned Wednesday. Gangs control an estimated 90% of Port-au-Prince, Ghada Fathy Waly, executive director of the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime, told the U.N. Security Council. Waly noted that gangs are expanding into previously peaceful areas. "Southern Haiti, which until recently was insulated from the violence, has seen a sharp increase in gang-related incidents," she said. "And in the east, criminal groups are exploiting land routes, including key crossings like Belladere and Malpasse, where attacks against police and customs officials have been reported." U.N. Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenca informed the council that "the ongoing gang encirclement of Port-au-Prince" and their strengthened foothold in the capital and beyond is "pushing the situation closer to the brink." "Without increased action by the international community, the total collapse of state presence in the capital could become a very real scenario," he warned. Gangs have gained power since President Jovenel Moïse's assassination in July 2021, previously controlling 85% of the capital. Haiti has not had a president since the assassination. A new U.N. report covering last October through February highlights that gangs have exploited political turmoil and Haiti's disorganized security response, saying competing political ambitions and corruption allegations within transitional governing bodies have hindered action. "While the expansion of territorial control brings gangs additional sources of revenue and bargaining power," the U.N. experts said in the report, "these attacks are also backed by individuals trying to destabilize the political transition for their own political goals." The U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory for Haiti in September 2024, warning Americans against visiting due to kidnapping, crime, civil unrest and limited healthcare. In May, the Trump administration designated two of Haiti's most powerful gang networks, Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif, as foreign terrorist organizations and specially designated global terrorists.
CBC
2 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
Gangs have 'near-total control' in Haiti, UN warns
Haiti's gangs have gained "near-total control" of the capital and authorities are unable to stop escalating violence across the impoverished Caribbean nation, senior UN officials warned Wednesday. An estimated 90 per cent of the capital, Port-au-Prince, is now under control of criminal groups who are expanding attacks not only into surrounding areas but beyond into previously peaceful areas, Ghada Fathy Waly, executive director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, told the UN Security Council. "Southern Haiti, which until recently was insulated from the violence, has seen a sharp increase in gang-related incidents," she said. "And in the east, criminal groups are exploiting land routes, including key crossings like Belladere and Malpasse, where attacks against police and customs officials have been reported." The remarks came a day after Bob Rae, president of the UN's Economic and Social Council, said in a statement that "the situation in Haiti is deteriorating at an alarming rate." "The Haitian population is being exploited, raped, kidnapped and recruited by armed gangs. They are malnourished and facing famine conditions," said Rae, a former Canadian MP. Waly in her presentation said that criminal groups are stepping into the vacuum left by the absence or limited delivery of public services and are establishing "parallel governance structures," and gang control of major trade routes has paralyzed legal commerce, leading to soaring prices for cooking fuel and rice, Haiti's staple food. UN Assistant Secretary General Miroslav Jenca told the council that "without increased action by the international community, the total collapse of state presence in the capital could become a very real scenario." Last month, the UN's International Organizaton for Migration estimated that 11 per cent of Haiti's nearly 12 million inhabitants have fled their homes due to the ongoing violence. International security force underfunded Gangs have grown in power since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021. Haiti has not had a president since the assassination, and has not held elections since 2016. A transitional council with rotating leaders was established last year, with hopes that the next election would be held by early 2026. A UN-backed mission led by Kenyan police arrived in Haiti last year to help quell gang violence, but the mission remains understaffed and underfunded, with only about 40 per cent of the 2,500 personnel originally envisioned. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres's proposal in February to have the UN provide drones, fuel, ground and air transport and other non-lethal support to the Kenya-led mission has languished in the council. In response to the gangs, the UNODC's Waly said there has been a rapid growth in the number and activities of private security companies and vigilante self-defence groups, with some trying to protect their communities while others act illegally and collude with gangs. "Over the last three months," Jenca said, "these groups reportedly killed at least 100 men and one woman suspected of gang association or collaboration." He said the last three months have also seen an increase in sexual violence by gangs with the UN political mission in Haiti documenting 364 incidents of sexual violence involving 378 survivors just from March to April. With a weak national police force facing acute tensions in its leadership, an army that needs rebuilding and the limited ability of the multinational force, UN experts have warned that the gangs will continue "to have the upper hand unless stronger international support is provided." UNICEF has previously assessed that some gangs are recruiting children to support their illegal activities. The Haitian National Police have also carried out "a worrying number of extrajudicial killings," with suspected gang members often summarily executed," the experts said, pointing to 281 summary executions by specialized police units in 2024 including 22 women and 8 children. Despite the UN arms embargo on Haiti, gangs continue to obtain more powerful weapons not only from regional civilian markets but from police stockpiles in Haiti and the neighbouring Dominican Republic, the experts said. WATCH l Haitian Canadians worry for relatives, compatriots on sombre anniversary: Haiti still impacted by earthquake 15 years later 6 months ago Duration 2:03 U.S. tries to end legal protections for Haitians The turmoil in Haiti comes as Donald Trump's administration announced last week that it was terminating legal protections for some 500,000 Haitians as soon as Sept. 2, setting them up for potential deportation. "The environmental situation in Haiti has improved enough that it is safe for Haitian citizens to return home," the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said in an accompanying statement. The move is being challenged in the courts. The DHS statement came even as the State Department , advising Americans not to travel there due to "kidnapping, crime, civil unrest and limited health care."
