On April 1st, Port-au-Prince witnessed severe violence with armed attacks near the National Palace, injuring five police officers.
Gunmen also set a guard vehicle on fire. Earlier, the city found four bodies in the upscale Pétion-Ville area, highlighting the ongoing unrest.
The violence, resulting in over 1,500 deaths and 826 injuries by March 22, intensified following Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s resignation without appointing a successor.
This led to increased international concern, with several embassies evacuating citizens and tightening security.
In response to the instability, Panama temporarily closed its embassy in Haiti on April 1st, pledging ongoing consular support through digital channels.
The crisis deepened late February when gangs formed an alliance aiming to oust Prime Minister Henry, taking over the Toussaint Louverture international airport.
This alliance launched assaults on two major prisons, releasing thousands of inmates, and targeted the airport and government buildings to pressure Henry’s resignation.
Henry announced his resignation from Puerto Rico, suggesting a presidential transition council, which was immediately rejected by the gangs.
The situation prompted calls for a multinational security support mission to Haiti, endorsed by the UN and potentially involving U.S. forces.
This escalating crisis in Haiti calls for urgent international collaboration to restore stability and address the humanitarian emergency.
Gunmen Attack Haiti National Palace, Panama Shuts Down Embassy
The United Nations Human Rights Office recently released a report. It signals an urgent crisis in Haiti, with institutions on the verge of collapse.
The UN urges immediate, bold global action to remedy this critical situation.
This report outlines the dire circumstances faced by Haitians, with escalating insecurity stripping away basic human rights.
It spans from September 25, 2023, to February 29, 2024, leveraging data from the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti’s Human Rights Service.
2023 saw a spike in violence, with gangs causing 4,451 deaths and 1,668 injuries. By March 22, 2024, these numbers had climbed to 1,554 deaths and 826 injuries.