Port au Prince is besieged by armed gangs. The World Food Program (WFP) draws attention to a high risk of famine in the country. Urgent intervention is necessary to avoid the worst.
For several weeks there has been chaos in Port-au-Prince. Commercial flights are prohibited. Seaports do not receive any ships. The already precarious purchasing power of several Haitian families is in danger. The country is practically cut off from the outside world, while it depends largely on imports to meet its basic needs. This situation causes an increased lack of food and pushes the country to the brink of famine.
Nearly five million Haitians suffer from chronic hunger, according to the WFP. Of these five million people, 1.4 million need urgent help to survive. The country has been facing this food crisis for several years, due to the political crisis and a lack of investment in national production. However, the situation is exacerbated by the onslaught of armed gangs who have now controlled almost all of the country’s major roads for several weeks.
No solution in sight
The country is not governed. There is no established authority. Control of the capital is in the hands of armed gangs. Part of the resigned government is located outside the country. The majority of diplomatic missions have already evacuated their staff. Just like the merchant bourgeoisie that operates in the country. These oligarchs who only defend economic interests in Haiti have already fled Port-au-Prince by helicopter. Which shows that the situation is still far from resolved.
While all the lights are red, political actors are dragging their feet in the search for a solution. More than two weeks after the announcement of the resignation of de facto Prime Minister Ariel Henry, the political transition is hampered due to disagreements between political actors. The latter cannot agree on the personality who should chair the transition council nor on the road map to provide to this council. While the installation of a transitional government is the sine qua non condition for the deployment of the security support mission led by Kenya.
An apocalyptic situation
The director of Unicef, Catherine Russel, compares the situation happening in Haiti to a scene from Mad Max, this dystopian action film which depicts an apocalyptic reality. All this to explain that the country is on the verge of collapse. However, it must be emphasized that this crisis which is shaking the country reflects the failure of the international community and traditional politicians. Unfortunately, the instigators of the crisis are at the forefront of the search for a solution.