Escalating Violence is Pushing Haiti to the Brink of Civil War Between Gangs and Civilians. "Nobody is safe. Nowhere is safe."

Mercy Corps is deeply concerned about escalating conflict between gangs and civilians following last week's incident in which a mob killed 14 suspected gang members.

Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moises in July 2021, Haiti’s humanitarian crisis has continued to spiral. Armed gangs have rapidly taken control of most areas of the Haitian capital Port-Au-Prince. According to BINUH, in the first quarter, the number of reported homicides increased by 21%, bringing the total death cases to 815, compared to 673 in the last quarter of 2022.

The escalating violence, compounded by rising food prices, political instability, and climate shocks, is also pushing Haiti into an unprecedented food crisis, with 4.9 million, nearly 50% of the population, experiencing hunger, according to the World Food Program. Families, particularly women and children, can no longer access essential items like clean water and food. Mercy Corps is currently supporting 2,000 people in Port-Au-Prince through flexible cash assistance. 

Lunise Jules, Mercy Corps Country Director for Haiti, says:

"Places that were previously considered relatively safe are no longer safe. Nowhere is safe, and nobody is safe. The population is being chased, sometimes dragged out of their houses, kidnapped, and killed for no reason and with no dignity, like animals.

"We are on the brink of a civil war between gangs and civilians. The population has been pushed to make impossible decisions, like choosing between taking children to a hospital or health clinics to treat cholera at the risk of being kidnapped and killed, or staying home and hoping they will get better. Now they begin to ask themselves, why not seek revenge and take justice into their own hands. They don’t have the same guns gangs own, but they use machetes and rocks."

Judes Jonathas, Deputy Program Director in Haiti, says:

"Haiti is not a functional country anymore. Corporations are leaving, stores are closed, and schools are only partially open, but families are afraid to send their kids because there are reports of teachers, parents, and even children being kidnapped in front of schools. Nearly half of the population is starving. There is no local food production anymore. If a gang occupies an area, farmers are no longer allowed to plant, and when they manage to harvest, markets are closed, so they cannot sell their goods. Families can no longer work because businesses are not operating, and most of the time, their only income is the money received from humanitarian organizations like Mercy Corps.

“We are also very concerned about the growing number of cholera cases, but with the current chaotic situation, it is hard even to quantify the exact number. The rampant violence is still mostly affecting Port-au-Prince. As soon as you leave the capital, it’s like stepping into another country, at least in terms of security. Families in the earthquake-affected areas still struggle to put food on the table, but they are not afraid of walking around at night.”

Currently, Mercy Corps is providing cash assistance to 32,500 people and more than 700 small businesses in three departments, including Port-au-Prince. Since 2019, Mercy Corps has also been working to reduce violence through financial inclusion and life skills training for more than 8,000 adolescents.