Haiti Report, July 19, 2024
A compilation of news about Haiti from the past week.
Migrants killed by boat fire off Haiti’s northern coast
At least 40 migrants were killed when a boat they were traveling on from Haiti caught fire, a United Nations agency announced on Friday. The boat, which was carrying over 80 people, left the northern coast of Haiti on Wednesday en route for Turks and Caicos, the agency said. Another 41 migrants were rescued by the Haitian Coast Guard off the coast of Cap-Haïtien, a city in northern Haiti, the agency said, with 11 taken to a hospital. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/19/world/americas/boat-fire-haiti-migrants.html
A Vodou ceremony aboard a boat filled with desperate Haitian migrants seeking a safe landing ended in tragedy after candles and matches used in the ritual set gasoline-filled drums on fire, setting off an explosion that killed at least 40 people. The tragedy unfolded around 3 a.m. Wednesday off the coast of Labadie in northern Haiti. The boat had initially departed from Fort Saint Michel, a seaside community in the city of Cap-Haïtien, near the international airport.
After leaving Cap-Haïtien the boat made a stop at Picolet, off Labadie, several Haitians told the Miami Herald. The area is considered sacred and before the risky migrant journey, boat captains from Cap-Haïtien routinely stop there to seek help from Vodou spirits for a safe and undetected journey. The secret ritual usually involves rum. “When they arrived they started pouring rum and wine into the ocean and they lit candles. There were two drums filled with gasoline and they exploded,” said Jean-Henry Petit, who is responsible for the Office of Civil Protection for northern Haiti. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/haiti/article290234794.html#storylink=cpy
New State of Emergency declared in areas controlled by gangs
Prime Minister Garry Conille announced that a "state of emergency" has been declared in 14 communes in the West and Artibonite regions controlled by gangs during a national address on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. "The authorities of the country are declaring a state of emergency in all communes controlled by gangs. This state of emergency will give the government the necessary tools and instruments to act, eradicate the bandits, and restore state authority. Fourteen communes are affected by this measure," said the head of government. "For now, I ask the populations of the affected communes to remain vigilant and calm. Security instructions will come gradually from the government and only from the government, through its official communication channels," emphasized the Prime Minister.
In his considerations before announcing the state of emergency in 14 communes of the country, Prime Minister Garry Conille highlighted, "Life in Port-au-Prince is becoming a battle for survival. Families live in fear. Moving freely in Port-au-Prince is a real ordeal. In several neighborhoods, children no longer go to school, businesses have closed. Hospitals and health centers are abandoned. The streets of our capital have become a battlefield where many innocents have lost their lives, and hope seems distant," said Garry Conille. https://lenouvelliste.com/en/article/249197/executive-declares-state-of-emergency-in-14-gang-controlled-areas-announces-pm-garry-conille
Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille ordered gangs to surrender their weapons during a televised speech late Wednesday in which he acknowledged how dangerous life in Haiti’s capital and beyond has become and pledged to crack down on the rampant violence. Earlier Wednesday, Associated Press journalists observed a line of armored vehicles roll down the main boulevard in downtown Port-au-Prince, one of the capital’s more dangerous areas, as a crowd of Haitians gathered quietly to observe, arms on their hips. “Drop your weapons and recognize the authority of the state,” Conille said in a message to gangs.
Diego Da Rin, with the International Crisis Group, noted that gang violence began diminishing in late May, with the first contingent of Kenyans arriving in late June. He noted that so far, Kenyans appeared to have limited their patrols to neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince that have not been seized by gangs. “There really hasn’t been any offensive operations,” he said. https://apnews.com/article/haiti-gangs-violence-conille-kenyan-police-bad88aebe46657da7793a91fa9b16686
Haiti Prime Minister Garry Conille has asked the Haitian police, with the support of the country’s small armed forces and the Kenya-led multinational security force, to begin launching operations in areas controlled by armed gangs. Conille made the announcement late Wednesday in an address to the nation in which he also announced that 14 communities currently under the control of criminal armed groups will be placed under a state of emergency. The decision, he said, was made in concert with the transitional presidential council. “The ultimate objective is to retake all of the areas that are controlled by gangs, house by house, neighborhood by neighborhood and city by city,” Conille said.
Armed gangs currently control more than 80% of Port-au-Prince and parts of the Artibonite region north of the capital. Although they have been relatively quiet in the capital they continue to pose a threat. Police this week reported the seizure of 5,000 bullets after two men attempted to transport them from Mirebalais in the Central Plateau to the capital. One of the men was killed in a shootout with police and the other fled, Haiti National Police spokesman Michel-Ange Louis-Jeune said. An attempt by armed gangs to take over a police station Monday in the town of Moro in the Artibonite left four people dead and 11 injured, said Bertide Horace, a spokesperson with the group Commission for Dialogue and Awareness to Save the Artibonite. Pleading for a deployment of police officers and equipment to the region, Horace said during an interview on Magik 9 radio station that gangs are becoming increasingly aggressive and residents have resorted to taking charge of their own security due to the lack of police presence in the rice-growing region. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/haiti/article290174534.html#storylink=cpy
Multinational Security Support Mission
A new contingent of 200 Kenyan police officers should join the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti (Mmas) on July 16 where gangs continue to reign in terror, AlterPresse learns. “We have 200 police officers who left last night (Monday July 15), they should land at their destination Haiti this (Tuesday) morning,” said a senior Kenyan police officer. The information was confirmed by another police officer, according to what AFP reports. https://www.alterpresse.org/spip.php?article30683
In a speech during the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT)’s visit to the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM) camp, Force Commander Godfrey Outage stated, “the 1st Kenyan Contingent to Haiti arrived on 25 June 2024 while the 2nd Contingent arrived 16 July 2024. The receptions from the Haitian people, Haitian National Police (PNH) and the entire Haitian leadership was reassuring and hospitable.”
He continued, “the MSSM is still at the Deployment Phase of the Mission. However, together with the PNH, we’ve been able to conduct reassurance day and night patrols within the city of Port-au-Prince, Hospital, sea port and Police Academy, joint training and engagement with local and international NGOs/Agencies as part of our Mandate under UNSCR 2699. As part of quick win and going forward, today (July 19) MSSM is deploying at the Hospital and National Palace, which will be followed by deployment to the Sea Port, Police Academy and pacification of three (3) key roads.”
https://x.com/MSSMHaiti/status/1814307918012948670
The Kenyan police in Haiti in partnership with the local ones managed to take over the main port in Port-au-Prince which had been under the control of gangs for five months. The team which is under the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, managed on Wednesday, July 17, to recapture the Auorite Portuaire Nationale (APN) port, which fell to the gangs on March 6, 2024, officials said. https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/realtime/2024-07-19-kenyan-police-in-haiti-take-over-port-after-fierce-clash-with-gangs/
On Wednesday, July 17, agents of the Haitian National Police (PNH) and the Kenyan contingent leading the MSSM patrolled the streets of the capital. The officers from both security forces were notably seen in downtown Port-au-Prince, at the Champ de Mars, near the National Palace, and along Jean-Jacques Dessalines Boulevard (Grand Rue). More than a dozen PNH armored vehicles and MaxxPro infantry vehicles, assigned to the MMAS, were used to transport the law enforcement officers.
A police source confirmed the deployment of Haitian and Kenyan police officers in the downtown area, which has been plagued by gang violence, but provided no further details. Le Nouvelliste also observed the deployment in the lower city. For the first time in several months, journalists were able to reach Jean-Jacques Dessalines Boulevard. https://lenouvelliste.com/en/article/249196/haitian-and-kenyan-officers-patrol-the-streets-of-port-au-prince
UN Security Council condemned violence & renewed BINUH Mission
The U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a resolution condemning “in the strongest terms” the increasing gang violence and criminal activity in Haiti that is undermining peace, stability and security in the country and the region. Friday's resolution expresses grave concern at illegal arms and ammunition flowing into Haiti and their link to the expanding territorial control by gangs and “the extreme levels of armed violence,” including sexual and gender-based violence, that lead to deteriorating security in the country.
The council extended the U.N. political mission in Haiti known as BINUH until July 15, 2025, with a mandate to support the advancement of “a Haitian-led, Haitian-owned political process towards the holding of free and fair legislative and presidential elections.” https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/condemns-increasing-gang-violence-criminal-activity-haiti-undermining-111905018
Violence in the Artibonite department
Four people were killed and eleven others injured on Monday, July 15, 2024, in the Pwofonde Patchwal area of the Artibonite department. The injured were helping the National Police prevent bandits from taking control of the Moro police station.
Speaking on Magik9 on Tuesday, July 16, Bertide Horace, spokesperson for the Commission for Dialogue and Awareness to Save Artibonite, stated that the bandits have been attempting to seize the Moro police station since Friday, July 12. These attacks continue, and members of the community are trying to protect the police station, he added. https://lenouvelliste.com/en/article/249161/artibonite-four-dead-eleven-injured
Formation of the electoral council & new findings on Haitian perceptions of the electoral system
Officials from the Episcopal Conference, the University Council, human rights organizations, journalists' associations, women's rights defense associations, and trade unions all confirmed to Le Nouvelliste on Monday that they are in the process of selecting their representative to the Provisional Electoral Council. A member of the Presidential Council even reported to the newspaper that the Vodou sector has already sent its representative to the Council. https://lenouvelliste.com/en/article/249134/challenges-in-selecting-future-members-of-the-provisional-electoral-council
The political transition process in Haiti is underway, with the ultimate goal of holding elections to bring the country back to a constitutional path and restore the normal functioning of its institutions. To this end, the Presidential Transition Council (CPT) has recently initiated the process of establishing the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP). However, this approach has sparked criticisms regarding its transparency. Benzico Pierre, leader of the Haïti Devant party, expressed his concerns on this matter during his appearance on the Panel Magik show on Thursday, July 18. "The foundation of democracy is transparency," he stated, adding that the CPT must ensure a clear and open process for selecting the members of the CEP. "The success of this transition depends on the CPT's ability to conduct a transparent and inclusive electoral process, thus ensuring the return to a stable and functional rule of law.” https://lenouvelliste.com/en/article/249207/ensuring-greater-transparency-in-the-cpts-formation-of-the-cep
A survey conducted by Policité, with support from Internews, reveals that 93% of respondents do not trust the electoral system. This study, carried out in January 2024 with 2,853 participants, 48% of whom were women, highlights citizens' priorities, their attitudes toward the electoral process, and their beliefs in the Haitian electoral system, among other aspects. The study was presented at the Montana Hotel on Monday, July 15, in the presence of Council President Leslie Voltaire, members of civil society, and the press.
As the country prepares for the electoral process in 2025, according to the transition schedule, this study titled "Survey on Citizens' Needs and Understanding of the Haitian Political System" reveals that 93% of the 2,853 participants across the country do not trust the Haitian electoral system.
Looking ahead to the next elections, 29% of respondents express a desire to vote. Of this total, 13% are certain they will vote, 16% are somewhat uncertain, 21% say they may vote depending on the security situation, 20% are adamant that they will not vote, and 16% are willing to vote but not immediately. Furthermore, the survey gathered information on the most pressing needs of participants. Security, at a rate of 89.06%, is the top priority, followed by access to healthcare services (70.38%) and employment opportunities and job security (72.49%).
In its recommendations, Policité encourages the implementation of education and awareness campaigns to motivate citizens to vote and calls on decision-makers to enhance transparency around the electoral system. https://lenouvelliste.com/en/article/249162/policite-and-internews-survey-reveals-93-of-haitians-mistrust-the-electoral-system
Former Henry government ministers under investigation for corruption
The Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC) is investigating five ministers from Prime Minister Ariel Henry's administration, Le Nouvelliste learned from a generally well-informed source on Tuesday, July 16, 2024.
“Yes, there are investigations concerning ministers from the previous administration,” confirmed the source. The ministers under investigation include the former Minister of Social Affairs, the Minister of the Interior (cases involving the Directorate of Immigration and Emigration), TPTC, MHAVE, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs (cases involving foreign representations), according to our source, noting that these ministers were targeted following “reports” for some and “self-initiated actions” for others. https://lenouvelliste.com/en/article/249165/former-henry-government-ministers-targeted-by-the-ulcc
Health Crisis at Jacmel Civil Prison, Nearly Ten Deaths Reported
The Jacmel civil prison is experiencing an unprecedented health crisis. During the 2023-2024 judicial year, around ten inmates have died due to health issues, while 200 others are suffering from various illnesses. Overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and severe malnutrition have plagued this prison for years. The inmates live in deplorable conditions without access to medical care. For his part, Frantz Comonce, coordinator of the Legal Assistance Bureau (BAL), mentioned a food shortage, further worsening the conditions of the inmates. According to him, the deaths are mainly due to severe malnutrition and skin diseases. "The Jacmel civil prison lacks the means to care for the inmates," he stated, adding that the usual interventions from NGOs are currently insufficient. He took the opportunity to call on the authorities to act quickly so that inmates can see a doctor and obtain a health certificate. https://lenouvelliste.com/en/article/249214/health-crisis-at-jacmel-civil-prison-nearly-ten-deaths-reported
Wave of kidnapping of doctors
Jean Ardouin Louis Charles, Secretary General of the Haitian Medical Association (AMH), denounces a wave of kidnappings of doctors in Haiti "In just a few weeks, several health professionals have been kidnapped by criminals demanding exorbitant ransoms and forced to remain silent."
Dr. Louis Charles highlighted recent cases, such as that of Dr. Nicolás, a septuagenarian kidnapped and then released after paying a ransom. More recently, the young doctor Alain Pierre was the victim of a kidnapping in Lizon, Plaine du Cul-de-Sac, where his family is struggling to respond to the kidnappers' demands.
The Secretary General of the AMH expressed his dismay at this persistent violence, highlighting its devastating impacts on the availability of medical care for the already fragile Haitian population. He also highlighted the departure of many health professionals forced into exile due to this persistent insecurity, further aggravating the country's health crisis. Dr. Louis Charles calls for urgent action from the authorities, emphasizing the need to restore security and fight against impunity. IH/ iciHaiti
Psychosocial support for displaced people
Since August 2023, armed violence in the Metropolitan Area of Port-au-Prince has forced nearly 600,000 people to leave their homes, leading to a massive displacement of the population towards makeshift sites such as schools and public establishments. Faced with this critical situation, the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP), with the support of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID-Haiti) through the project "Sustaining and scaling-up the health response to cholera in Haiti", coordinated an emergency response, one of the main components of which is psychosocial support for populations suffering from trauma problems linked to their displacement and the fear of epidemics, such as cholera, exacerbated by their new living conditions.
"Fleeing with my children under automatic gunfire was a traumatic experience. Today, these memories haunt me, and I find it hard to walk in the street," says Venita, 50, originally from Carrefour-Feuilles and current resident of the Lycée Anténor Firmin site. She is one of the many displaced people who were able to benefit from psychosocial assistance from MSPP specialists supported by PAHO/WHO. "The management of this crisis, and in particular the control of epidemics such as cholera, is not limited to the medical aspect; it requires an integrated approach that also addresses the psychological trauma and precarious living conditions of the displaced population," underlines Dr. Yanick Mutani, mental health consultant at PAHO. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42799-haiti-gang-violence-psychosocial-support-for-displaced-people-in-haiti.html
Displaced women facing ‘unprecedented’ levels of insecurity and sexual violence
A new report by UN Women reveals the dire living conditions and lack of security faced by some 300,000 displaced women and girls amid ongoing political instability, escalating gang violence and the threat of the current hurricane season. Women and girls account for more than half of the 580,000 displaced people in Haiti, and the UN Women Rapid Gender Assessment highlights how makeshift camps, which lack basic necessities, are putting them at particular risk of sexual and gender-based violence.
The survey was conducted in April in the six most populated and diverse displacement sites in the capital, Port-au-Prince. It found that most camps have no lighting or locks in key areas such as bedrooms and toilets, while residents are exposed to daily threats from the gangs. The constant danger of stray bullets and other security risks further underscore the urgent need for improved protection in these sites. Aggression against women and girls, specifically rape, is also being used in most camps as a deliberate tactic to control their access to humanitarian assistance, the agency noted.
“Our report tells us that the level of insecurity and brutality, including sexual violence, that women are facing at the hands of gangs in Haiti is unprecedented. It must stop now,” said UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous. “We urge the newly appointed Government to take measures to prevent and respond to the violence women and girls are subjected to, and to increase women’s participation in the camps’ management so that their security concerns are listened to and acted upon.” She added that “humanitarian aid must be safely distributed in line with the differentiated needs of women and girls.”
The report also revealed that nearly 90 per cent of women interviewed have no source of income in the camps.
More than 10 per cent said they had resorted to or considered the possibility of sex work or prostitution to meet their needs at least once, and 20 per cent knew at least one person who had done so. Other findings include that some 16 per cent of respondents felt intimidated, harassed, or traumatized by armed gangs, and almost 70 per cent said they were mentally affected by the upsurge in violence. Only 10 per cent reported having access to health services in the camps. https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/07/1152206
Displaced people long to leave camps and shelters
Over a year and a half since Haiti's rampant gang violence upended her life, Philomene Dayiti longs for nothing more than leaving the Port-au-Prince church where she has taken refuge with hundreds of others and returning home. Some 800 people now reside in a makeshift camp in the church's courtyard, surrounded by personal belongings hanging on walls or clotheslines. https://www.rfi.fr/en/international-news/20240713-haiti-church-takes-in-hundreds-fleeing-gang-violence
Humanitarian catastrophe requires urgent international action
Haiti’s multifaceted humanitarian emergency needs urgent attention and strategies beyond emergency, three senior UN officials said today as they wrapped up a four-day visit to the country. Representatives from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), UNICEF, and the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) saw firsthand the impact of ongoing violence that has upended Haitians’ daily lives.
“What Haitians want the most is peace, that will allow them to return to school, to farm their fields, to access basic services such as going to a hospital”, said Edem Wosornu, OCHA’s Operations and Advocacy Director.
As clashes in the country continue, more than 578,000 Haitians are displaced, and nearly 5 million are facing acute hunger - nearly half of the Haitian population - with 1.6 million at risk of starvation. The violence has crippled Haiti’s agricultural sector – a key source of income for families – and disrupted education and health care: More than 900 schools have been closed since January; and in the capital Port-au-Prince, nearly 40 per cent of all in-patient health facilities are out of service. The violence has generated loss of income of families who used to be economically independent, crippling their ability to sufficiently feed them and provide healthcare. The majority of displaced families with school age children don’t know if they will return to school. https://www.unicef.org/haiti/en/press-releases/humanitarian-catastrophe-haiti-requires-urgent-international-action-aid-officials
The official ordinance about the La Saline Massacre in November 2018 is released
More than 80 citizens were killed during the massacre which is considered a major turning point in recent history. Violence against anti-corruption activists and repression increased greatly after this bloody event. See the ordinance here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aE4ayY6NkaXfNg2BAxwMMg04WMGo4EaL/view?usp=drive_link
Road construction project underway in Cap-Haitien
Cap-Haitien kicked off a road and sidewalk construction project ahead of the city’s anniversary celebration next month. Residents are rejoicing at the work completed so far because it has helped speed up traffic and lessen the amount of dust on the streets.
The road construction started in Carrefour Aviation, an area near the international airport, and has only been completed to a nearby neighborhood, Fort Saint-Michel, so far. The project is part of Cap-Haïtien’s preparation for the city’s 354th anniversary celebration on Aug. 15. Traffic has significantly sped up in Fort Saint-Michel and Carrefour Aviation, drivers said. Bumper to bumper traffic is a dilemma residents have been navigating through for years on Route National #3 partially because of the parts of the road that are not asphalted.
As for the sidewalk construction part of the project, as of Tuesday afternoon, workers built 442 meters of the 625 meters of the remainder of the project. The entire project stretches to about 1,600 meters. The Engineering and National Expertise Office (BIEN) is leading the project that started on June 28 and is estimated to end next week. https://haitiantimes.com/2024/07/19/road-construction-in-cap-haitien/
ANALYSIS
Meeting the Moment: The Role of the Diaspora in Haiti’s Future, by Esnold Jure & Georges Fauriol, United States Institute for Peace (USIP)
Haiti’s diaspora needs to coordinate on key policy priorities to help stabilize the country.
Remittances should be complemented with targeted investments in sectors that advance reconstruction.
Haiti can also benefit from the expertise of its diaspora to build public administration capacity.
https://www.usip.org/publications/2024/07/meeting-moment-role-diaspora-haitis-future
Mapping Haiti’s Road Toward Justice: Lessons from Colombia and Guatemala, by Nicolas Devia-Valbuena & Gabriel Rojas-Andrade (USIP)
Haiti needs a creative, whole-of-society strategy to counter gangs.
Colombia’s transitional restorative justice model and Guatemala’s hybrid prosecution system contain useful lessons.
Similar efforts in Haiti could help deliver justice, strengthen institutions and promote societal healing.