The United Nations has launched a major evacuation of its personnel from Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, following a dramatic escalation in violence between armed gangs, police, and civilians, Al Jazeera reports.
The intensified clashes, marked by machete attacks, have prompted the UN to relocate its staff, joining other international organizations fleeing the escalating crisis.
A UN helicopter operation commenced Monday, airlifting 14 evacuees at a time from Port-au-Prince to Cap-Haitien, with further travel plans for some to leave the country. This action comes after the closure of Port-au-Prince’s main international airport earlier this month due to gunfire targeting commercial flights. The airlift also includes personnel from foreign embassies and other relief agencies, according to diplomatic and security sources.
The United States Air Force deployed a C-130 aircraft on Sunday to evacuate American diplomats from the US embassy, as confirmed by US Southern Command. Most foreign embassies are now operating with severely reduced staff, limiting operations to essential personnel and security details.
The UN has confirmed it is “adapting its operations,” with some staff relocating within Haiti and others leaving the country while continuing to work remotely. The severity of the situation is underscored by Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which has suspended critical care in Port-au-Prince due to alleged police targeting of its staff and patients, including threats of rape and death. Food for the Poor (FFTP) has also halted regular food deliveries due to gang disruptions and the perilous access to seaports caused by roadblocks and airport closure.
A 430-strong UN-backed security mission, primarily composed of Kenyan police, deployed in June to support Haiti’s overwhelmed police force, has defended its actions amidst public criticism of its handling of the crisis. A confidential UN report obtained by Al Jazeera reveals that at least 220 people, including 115 gang members, were killed in coordinated attacks between November 11 and 19 aimed at forcing the government’s resignation. The UN estimates over 4,500 deaths and 41,000 displaced people in the past two weeks alone, adding to the over 700,000 already displaced by the conflict. UNICEF has also reported a 70% increase in child gang recruitment in the past year.
The Haitian government, with US and Caribbean support, is urging the UN Security Council to authorize a full-scale peacekeeping operation, citing the insufficiency of the current Kenyan-led mission. However, Russia and China oppose this, criticizing a lack of Haitian civil society engagement and advocating for strengthening the Haitian police instead.
