Over the recent days, the unrest in the capital Port-au-Prince escalated once more.
Armed gangs launched assaults on the National Palace and ignited a portion of the Interior Ministry using Molotov cocktails.
Following a prolonged attack on the international airport, which remains shut down to all flights, including one carrying Prime Minister Ariel Henry, tensions mounted.
His attempt to return from the United States was thwarted as his plane was denied landing clearance.
Subsequently, he was refused entry into the neighboring Dominican Republic as well, leaving him stranded in Puerto Rico, unable to enter his nation.
Amidst the turmoil, a group of US military personnel entered Haiti in response to a request from the US State Department.
The Pentagon confirmed an operation aimed at bolstering security at the US embassy in Port-au-Prince and evacuating non-essential staff to safety.
Concurrently, the European Union announced the evacuation of all its diplomats from Haiti, highlighting the intensifying violence and the country’s gravest humanitarian crisis since the 2010 earthquake.
In stark contrast, millions of Haitians find themselves trapped, devoid of such means of escape, irrespective of the deteriorating conditions.
The dire situation at the State University of Haiti Hospital in downtown Port-au-Prince epitomizes the chaos.
Patients languish unattended amidst the overpowering stench of decay, with no medical personnel in sight.
Philippe, a patient at the hospital, lamented, “There are no doctors, they all fled last week.
We can’t go outside.
We hear the explosions and gunfire.
So, we must have courage and stay here, we can’t go anywhere.”
With governance in disarray and gang influence pervasive, the capital’s control is effectively in the hands of these criminal factions.
Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier, a notorious gang leader, has reiterated his demand for the prime minister’s resignation, warning of dire consequences otherwise.
Meanwhile, the overwhelmed and demoralized police force struggles to contain looting and violence.
Police stations have been attacked and razed, symbolizing the breakdown of law and order.
Despite the prevailing chaos, many residents are compelled to venture out in pursuit of livelihoods.
Market traders like Jocelyn, driven by familial responsibilities, face the perils of the streets, where gunmen lurk and threats loom.
The destabilization in Haiti reverberates throughout the Caribbean community and poses concerns for the United States, particularly amidst an election year.
The prospect of a nation governed by gangs poses significant challenges, including potential migration pressures.
While the Biden administration publicly advocates for Prime Minister Henry’s resignation and a transition to a new government, doubts linger over his ability to return safely to Haiti.
Efforts to address the crisis, including proposals for a Kenyan-led rapid reaction force, remain distant from realization.
Moreover, the recent prison break, resulting in thousands of inmates joining the ranks of gangs, exacerbates the lawlessness gripping the nation.
With a prime minister unable to return, gangs asserting control, and chaos reigning supreme, Haiti teeters on the brink of becoming a failed state.
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