The United Nations has issued a dire warning that gangs now dominate nearly all of Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, amid a deepening security and humanitarian crisis. According to the latest UN human rights report, up to 90% of the city is under gang influence, with violent groups enforcing control through extortion, sexual violence, kidnappings, and killings. Once seen as safe, parts of the capital have now fallen into lawlessness as the country’s institutions continue to collapse.
The situation has worsened throughout 2024, with more than 1.3 million people displaced and thousands killed due to escalating gang violence. Though an international security mission led by Kenya has begun deploying, it remains under-equipped and lacks sufficient personnel to restore order. Haiti’s government has even turned to the use of drones in targeted operations, but the UN has raised concerns over civilian safety and the legal framework surrounding such strikes. Without urgent global support, officials warn that the country risks a total breakdown of governance.
