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Situation in Haiti
- Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced his resignation and the departure of his government on 11 March. Henry stated that the government had accepted for a Transitional Presidential Council to be established. The country is currently led by the Minister of Finance, Michel Boisvert.
- The nighttime curfew has been extended until 20 March.
- Widespread looting and street fights have taken place since the resignation of Ariel Henry, including of the Guatemalan and Salvadoran consulates and hospitals.
- The Central Bank of Haiti was under attack on Monday 18 March. The attack was successfully repelled by security agents together with the National Police Force. Four gang members were killed in the attacks.
- Several branches of private banks were ransacked prior to the attempted attack on the Central Bank.
- There have been several attacks on the main port terminal in Port-au-Prince in which containers were looted, including some with items essential for medical services.
- A number of zones in Port-au-Prince have lost power due to the destruction of the Varreux Power Plant, located in the capital city.
- A police operation was held on Friday 15 March in Delmas to unblock the main road which had been under blockade by gangs for several days. Several gang members were killed during the operation.
- 60% of hospitals in Haiti are not functional due to shortages of supplies, electricity, and fuel. Shortages of blood are inhibiting surgical operations.
- More than 40% of Haitian are acutely food insecure, with 1.4 million people soon to face famine, according to the World Food Programme.
- The attacks in the capital and road blocs have led to shortages of food and fuel, resulting in a steep increase in prices.
- Since 29 February, 15,000 people have been displaced in Port-au-Prince. Nationwide, there are 362,000 internally displaced people. Almost half of the country’s population is in need of humanitarian aid.
- The international NGO GOAL temporarily suspended its activities in Haiti on 11 March due to the insecurity, though still remaining on standby to provide support when and where it is safe to do so.
- 15 Bodies were found in Pétillon-Ville in the early morning of 18 March. An assault on the neighbourhoods of Laboule and Thomassin in Pétillon-Ville took place on the same day.
- Jimmy Cherizier, the main gang leader also known as Barbeque, stated he wants a revolution to overthrow the whole system and redistribute Haiti’s wealth.
Situation on the Transitional Presidential Council
- A Presidential Council consisting of seven members was agreed to replace the current government by CARICOM together with Haitian politicians and civil society. This council will be charged with appointing a Prime Minister and forming a transitional government.
- The Transitional Presidential Council will consist of representatives of six political organisations and the private sector. A representative of the religious sector and civil society organisations can participate in advisory or observer capacity.
- The representatives of political organisations that have been chosen for the council so far are Edgard Leblanc Fils, Leslie Voltaire, Marie Ghislaine Mompremier, Fritz Alphonse Jean, Laurent St Cyr and Louis Gérald Gilles.
- Two observers have also been named to represent civil society, namely Pierre Jean Raymond André and René Jean-Jumeaux as observers.
- This proposal submitted by CARICOM was rejected by Jean-Charles Moise, leader of the ‘Pitit Desalin’ party, who has insisted on a three-member Presidential Council. He stated that they would install it by any means necessary.
- Moise iterated that the proposal for a three-member Presidential Council has been widely approved in Haiti, having been endorsed by 150 political parties, and 3,250 organisations.
Situation on the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission
- The deployment of Kenyan police officers to Haiti will be delayed, due to the resignation of Ariel Henry. William Ruto, Kenya’s president, stated that police officers will be ready for deployment as soon as a transitional government has been established.
- The US pledged an additional $100 million to the MSS mission, increasing the total pool to $300 million, along with $33 million for humanitarian aid. Canada in turn offered $91 million to support the mission.
- US lawmakers have put a hold on the $40 million requested by the US State Department for the mission, due to a lack of details. The MSS mission would not be able to carry on without these funds.
Regional situation
- Undocumented migrants are being sent back to Haiti daily at the border with the Dominican-Republic, including migrants that have been living in the Dominican Republic for years.
- The Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF) has deployed assets to combat illegal immigration from Haiti. The US and UK have also deployed vessels. 50 Haitians were already apprehended on 16 March.
Links of interest
Prime Minister Ariel Henry Announces Resignation and Upcoming Departure of His Government
‘Overthrow the system’: Haiti gang leader Cherizier seeks revolution
Central Bank Targeted in Monday’s Armed Attack
Haiti – FLASH : Containers looted again at the Port of the capital (Video)
Police Operation and Bandit Looting in Port-au-Prince Friday Night
Haiti – FLASH : 4 substations and the Varreux Power Plant partially destroyed and totally dysfunctional
Abandoned fields, soaring hunger: Gang violence hits Haiti’s countryside
Haiti Emergency Situation Report No. 7 (As of 15 March 2024)
Haiti: Aid efforts continue amid violence and volatility
GOAL temporarily suspends aid programmes in Port-au-Prince, amid escalating violence, extreme civil unrest, and assault on the Haiti capital, for staff safety’s sake
Haiti – FLASH : Corpses litter the streets of Pétion-ville
Haiti’s gangs unleash new attacks on upscale Port-au-Prince
Exit Ariel Henry, 7-Member Presidential Council to Lead Transition
Pierre Jean Raymond André et René Jean-Jumeau, les deux observateurs au Conseil présidentiel
Haiti’s political leaders reject Caricom-brokered deal
Kenya pauses police deployment to Haiti after PM Ariel Henry resigns
US Southern Command admits boots on Haiti ground ‘possible’
United States to Give Extra $133 Million Amid Haiti Crisis
Kenya on ‘standby’ as US raises funds for Haiti mission
US lawmakers blocking critical funding for Haiti multinational mission
Fear and chaos await Haitian migrants forced back over border
Haiti – Politics: The Bahamas deploy significant resources to fight against Haitian «boat people»
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