Following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July of 2021, the nation of Haiti has been plagued by increasing incidences of gang violence. Conflict between different groups has been particularly violent in the capital city of Port-au-Prince. Violence between gangs and targeting ordinary citizens has become so intense that schools, businesses, and hospitals have been forced to close rather than face reprisals. The main road between the capital and the rest of the country was seized by outlaw forces, and gangs are recruiting children to fill their ranks. From April 24 to May 16, at least 188 people were killed by gang members, and more than 9,000 people were forced to flee their homes and seek shelter in churches and closed schools. After almost a full year of untold levels of violence and destruction, administrators from the United Nations have begun to question their continued presence in the region.
For more information on this story, please see https://apnews.com/article/politics-haiti-port-au-prince-assassinations-united-nations-d3f860d307fce40db1ad6fe7a79c8fc3.
