Haiti: Shooting incident involving US Embassy vehicles Nov. 14

Event

Officials confirmed shots were fired at a US Embassy vehicle convoy in Haiti Nov. 14. The incident resulted in minor injuries to a local driver accompanying the diplomatic motorcade. There were no reports of injuries to embassy personnel. Authorities did not confirm the location of the incident, though unconfirmed reports suggest it may have occurred in the Croix-des-Bouquets area just outside of the capital Port-au-Prince. The motive for the shooting is not immediately clear.

Context

Haiti, particularly the Port-au-Prince area, has been severely affected by violence in recent months, with Croix-des-Bouquets being one of the most dangerous areas. Rival gangs control much of the Port-au-Prince region and frequently kill and kidnap civilians. Gender-based violence, including rape, remains severely underreported nationwide. Areas in and around the capital that are the most severely affected by violent crime include Carrefour, Drouillard, Champs-de-Mars, Croix-des-Bouquets, Laboule 12, Cite Soleil, Martissant, Bel Air, Toussaint Brave, Bas-Delmas, Santo, Torcelle, and Fontamara. Criminal organizations often demand protection money or payment for safe passage. Additionally, their activities typically shut down Varreux, Port-au-Prince's fuel port, leading to fuel and electricity shortages. The gangs also disrupt shipments of food, water, and medicine.