The assassination of President Jovenel Moïse last week brought global attention to the current political turmoil in Haiti, but the country had already been in a state of profound crisis for many months. Stéphane Doyon, MSF Haiti program manager, describes the deterioration in the humanitarian situation and the extraordinary level of violence now occurring.
What is the current situation in Haiti?
To describe everyday life, you have to borrow from the vocabulary of war. The capital Port-au-Prince is divided by several front lines. Entire neighborhoods are under the control of armed groups with shifting territories. In dense and impoverished areas, the streets are barricaded, and in some areas there are snipers shooting on sight. Clashes between gangs have forced thousands of residents to leave some neighborhoods. In others, such as Cité Soleil, the population finds itself trapped by the fighting. The UN estimates that 18,000 people are displaced, accommodated either with relatives or in poorly adapted sites, such as schools or churches. This is a new phenomenon, with the majority of them having fled in recent weeks as the fighting escalates. The main access routes to Port-au-Prince are controlled by gangs, and entering or leaving the city has become complicated. In addition to the fighting, there is a very high level of crime, with robberies, kidnappings, and extortion.