Haiti’s central department has witnessed a mass exodus, with over 10,000 people fleeing their homes due to a recent surge in gang attacks, according to the United Nations’ migration agency. These attacks, including one on a hospital north of the capital, have raised significant concerns about the deteriorating security situation in the country.
Haiti’s police force, already under-resourced, has grappled with heavily armed gangs that have steadily expanded their territorial control and influence over the past year, particularly in the capital, Port-au-Prince. These gangs have formed powerful alliances, leading to increased violence and instability.
The conflict has escalated in recent months, with regions such as Artibonite and the Central Department experiencing a surge in violence. Most notably, on Tuesday, armed individuals launched an attack on the University Hospital of Mirebalais, one of Haiti’s major healthcare facilities. This followed an attack on a police station in nearby Saut-d’Eau just days earlier.
Haiti’s primary private healthcare provider, Zanmi Lasante, condemned the “brutal attack” on the hospital, emphasizing the violation of the moral treaty that designates hospitals as neutral sites. While no immediate reports of casualties emerged, social media videos depicted chaotic scenes of broken windows and bullet-riddled hospital walls.
The recent spike in violence can be traced back to a declaration by Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier, the leader of the powerful G9 gang alliance, announcing his intention to overthrow the government by force. He called for a broader truce among metropolitan area gangs under a new alliance called “Living Together.” However, internal disputes within the G9 alliance erupted, leading to the reported killing of one of its leaders near Fontaine Hospital in the capital.
The surge in violence has further exacerbated the already fragile security situation in Haiti, as residents and institutions brace for possible retaliatory attacks from local gangs. The situation was further complicated by the construction of a canal along a river on the border with the Dominican Republic, prompting the Dominican Republic to shut down its border. This move has driven Haitian migrants back into conflict-affected areas, raising concerns about access to humanitarian aid in the region.
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