31 Mar 2024 | 05:14 PM UTC
Haiti: Curfew in Ouest Department extended through at least April 1 as gang violence continues. /update 11
Curfew in Ouest Department, Haiti, extended until April 1 amid ongoing gang violence. State of emergency remains in effect until April 3.
Political instability and severe transport, business, and diplomatic services disruptions due to gang activity will likely continue in Haiti through at least early April. With gangs continuing to overwhelm the Haitian National Police (Police Nationale d'Haiti, PNH), authorities have extended the existing 19:00-06:00 nightly curfew in Ouest Department until at least April 1. Further extensions are likely; by law, the curfew can be renewed for periods of 72 hours at a time. A related state of emergency (SoE) is scheduled to remain in effect until at least April 3. Officials have banned public demonstrations in Ouest Department during the SoE.
Despite these security measures and Prime Minister Ariel Henry's announcement that he would resign following the creation of a transitional presidential council, gang-related violence has continued in and around Port-au-Prince. An escalation in violence occurred in some of the capital's most affluent suburbs, especially in Petionville. On March 20, suspected gang members reportedly killed a PNH officer in Delmas 72; police killed a local gang leader during armed clashes in Petionville. The PNH has also carried out operations in areas where gang activity is particularly prevalent, including Delmas 6, downtown Port-au-Prince, Bellevue, Belvil, Laboule, and Thomassin, among others.
Gang members have also staged attacks on Haiti's main seaport in the capital and may attempt additional assaults in the future. Caribbean Port Services (CPS) has indefinitely suspended operations at the facility after gang members breached the port and looted containers. Existing shortages of food, fuel, and medical supplies could become exacerbated should the port closure become protracted.
Gangs have also vandalized several power facilities operated by electrical utility provider Electricite d'Haiti (EDH) in the Port-au-Prince area, including the Varreux Power Plant, and stolen company equipment. Such damage has caused outages affecting Route de l'Aeroport, Croix-des-Bouquets, Place Jeremie, Boulevard Marin, Santo, Bon Repos, Haut Tabarre, the vicinity of the US Embassy, and the Little Brothers and Sisters Hospital (Hopital Petits Freres et Soeurs), among other areas.
Several diplomatic missions have evacuated staff from Port-au-Prince amid the gang violence and political instability, including those of the US, Canada, Germany, and the EU. Nevertheless, the US Embassy remains operational, and the US military has reinforced security at the facility. Other countries may evacuate their diplomatic staff from Haiti if the security crisis persists.
Travel Disruptions
Major flight disruptions will likely continue at airports across Haiti, including at Port-au-Prince's Toussaint Louverture International Airport (PAP) and Cap-Haitien International Airport (CAP). Several airlines have suspended flights serving Haiti, resulting in limited options for leaving the country; however, Haiti-based Sunrise Airways (S6) has resumed some commercial flight operations between CAP and Miami International Airport (MIA). The Canadian and US governments have reiterated their advice to their respective citizens not to travel to Haiti and to leave as soon as feasible; civil aviation authorities in the Dominican Republic have recommended that airlines avoid all services to PAP.
Avoid areas affected by significant gang violence. Maintain heightened vigilance if operating in the Port-au-Prince area. Prepare for disruptions to ground transport, flights, business operations, and diplomatic services. Consider making alternative arrangements for time-sensitive travel. Leave the area immediately if violence erupts nearby; if unable to do so, take refuge in a secure building until it is safe to depart. Adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities and your home government.
Haiti's security situation began to deteriorate with a surge in gang violence in late February as Prime Minister Henry arrived in Kenya for negotiations regarding a UN-backed multinational security deployment in the country. Gang leaders assert that the attacks target government officials, including PNH Chief Frantz Elbe, in an attempt to dissuade Henry from returning to the country. Henry has since remained outside of Haiti and announced late March 11 while in Puerto Rico that he would resign once a transitional presidential council was established and an interim successor and new cabinet were chosen. While it remains unclear exactly when the creation of the transitional presidential council will be complete, eight members of the proposed nine-member body signed the first statement issued by the council on March 27, an indication that the group may begin its official duties in the near future.
The curfew and SoE have been in place since early March but do not appear to have resulted in any tangible improvement in the security situation as officials lack the capacity to enforce these measures.
