(2021-07) ACAPS Briefing Note: Haiti - Gang Violence (14 July 2021)
Summary — This briefing note assesses the humanitarian fallout of the surge in gang violence in Port-au-Prince from 1 June 2021, which affected an estimated 1.5 million people and displaced 18,100 by end-June, and situates it against the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse on 7 July. It documents sectoral needs in shelter, protection, health, and WASH at makeshift IDP sites, and severe humanitarian access constraints after attacks on health facilities. Aggravating factors include a quadrupling of COVID-19 deaths since May, Tropical Storm Elsa, political instability, and 4.4 million food-insecure people.
Key Findings
- Gang violence escalating from 1 June 2021 affected an estimated 1.5 million people in Port-au-Prince, with 95 gangs clashing over territory and the commercial district deserted after looting.
- As of 30 June, 18,100 people were displaced (14,700 from Bas Delmas, Cité Soleil, and Martissant) and 11,500 were missing, trapped in conflict zones or fled; most IDPs sheltered in makeshift sites or with host families with acute shelter, protection, and WASH gaps.
- The 7 July assassination of President Jovenel Moïse was assessed as likely to deepen instability, with the legality of interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph's authority contested by designated Prime Minister Ariel Henry and a two-week state of emergency declared.
- Humanitarian access was severely constrained: 35 percent of health workers in Carrefour/Martissant could not reach work, MSF suspended operations in Martissant after its health centre was attacked, and road closures prevented assistance from reaching 14,000 households in the south.
- Compounding crises included COVID-19 deaths quadrupling since May (19,220 cases, 467 deaths by 12 July, no vaccination rollout), Tropical Storm Elsa damage on 3 July, and 4.4 million food-insecure people, with violence-related school closures cutting take-home rations for 55,000 students.
Full Description
This ACAPS briefing note, published 14 July 2021, analyses the escalation of gang violence in Port-au-Prince from 1 June 2021, when some 95 gangs began clashing over territory following a reconfiguration of alliances, concentrated in southern neighbourhoods including Bas Delmas, Bel Air, Cité Soleil, Fontamara, Laboule 12, Martissant, and Toussaint Brave. An estimated 1.5 million people were affected; 18,100 were displaced as of 30 June (14,700 from Bas Delmas, Cité Soleil, and Martissant) and 11,500 people were missing, either trapped in conflict zones or fled. The note was finalised days after the 7 July assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, which it assesses as likely to further destabilise the political situation, with interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph's authority contested by designated Prime Minister Ariel Henry and a two-week state of emergency declared.
Sectorally, the note documents makeshift IDP sites with acute gaps: 3,000 IDPs in seven sites and 9,000 with host families; reported rape and sexual violence at sites in Carrefour and Delmas; 565 IDPs with disabilities hosted in a school after the La Piste camp was burned; and Delmas 103 with four overflowing latrines for 500 IDPs and no running water. Access constraints were severe: 35 percent of health workers in Carrefour/Martissant could not reach work, MSF suspended activities in Martissant after its centre was attacked on 26 June, at least eight police officers were killed and eight stations attacked, and road closures cut assistance to 14,000 households in the south. Aggravating factors include COVID-19 deaths quadrupling since May (19,220 cases and 467 deaths by 12 July, with no vaccination rollout), Tropical Storm Elsa's 3 July damage at the start of hurricane season, and 4.4 million food-insecure people, with school closures cutting take-home rations for 55,000 students.
Notes
ACAPS thematic/anticipatory analysis