Violence in Haiti claimed 150 lives this week, bringing the death toll from gang warfare to over 4,000 this year. The intensifying conflict is centred on control of Port-au-Prince, where gangs dominate 80 percent of the city and hold residents hostage.
"The latest upsurge in violence in Haiti's capital is a harbinger of worse to come," said UN human rights chief Volker Turk. "The gang violence must be promptly halted. Haiti must not be allowed to descend further into chaos."
Since 11 November, thousands have fled their homes as a coalition of gangs pushes for full control of Port-au-Prince. More than 700,000 people have been displaced across Haiti due to the violence, including 20,000 this week.
"Port-au-Prince's estimated four million people are practically being held hostage as gangs now control all the main roads in and out of the capital," Turk added.
Residents, police fight back
On Tuesday, residents joined police to resist an attack by gangs led by the Viv Ansanm group in the Pétion-Ville district. At least 28 suspected gang members were killed, and hundreds of munitions were seized, said Lionel Lazarre, deputy spokesman for Haiti’s National Police.
Gunmen also attacked the nearby community of Canapé Vert.
Later that night, the medical charity Doctors Without Borders announced the suspension of critical care across the capital, citing threats and violence against its staff by police officers, including allegations of rape and death threats.
"We have been in Haiti for more than 30 years, and this decision is taken with a heavy heart," said Christophe Garnier, head of the mission in Haiti. "Healthcare services have never been so limited for people."
Peacekeeping debate
At the UN, discussions continued this week over whether to transition the Kenyan-led multinational police force in Haiti into a UN peacekeeping mission.
The United States backs the move, arguing it would secure more funding for the under-resourced mission.
China and Russia remain opposed, questioning the timing and feasibility of deploying peacekeepers to a country without stability.
"Peacekeepers should only be deployed when there is peace to keep, and there is no peace in Haiti," said Shuang Geng, China’s deputy UN ambassador.
"Deploying a peacekeeping operation at this time is nothing more than putting peacekeepers into the front line of the battles with gangs."
Russia’s deputy ambassador, Dmitry Polyansky, echoed the sentiment, saying: "Their role is to maintain peace and not to fight crime in urban areas or to save a dysfunctional state that has been plunged into domestic conflict."
Struggle for support
The multinational force was expected to include 2,500 officers, but only 430 have been deployed, with 400 coming from Kenya and the rest from Jamaica, Belize and the Bahamas.
The UN trust fund supporting the mission has raised $85.3 million of the $96.8 million pledged, far short of the $300 million the US says is needed to deploy the full force for a year.
Despite these challenges, Haiti’s leaders have appealed for a peacekeeping mission, with support from the Organization of American States.
Kenyan National Security Adviser Monica Juma said the multinational force has secured key sites, including the police academy, national palace, and hospital, but more resources are urgently needed.
"It is time for the Security Council to act and to take the initial steps to realise Haiti’s request to help reestablish security for the people of Haiti," said US deputy ambassador Dorothy Shea.
Miroslav Jenca, a top UN peacebuilding official, warned that the situation could worsen without swift action.
"This is not just another wave of insecurity in Haiti, it is a dramatic escalation that shows no sign of abating."
