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Situation in Haiti
- The Haitian government has announced the creation of a Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) tasked with organising a referendum in spring 2025 and a general election before 7 February 2026. The CEP consists of seven members representing different sectors in Haiti.
- The truce between gangs in Cité-Soleil was broken on 12 September due to disagreements related to a penalty in a football match. It is not yet clear how many people have been killed in the unrest that has followed, although it has been reported that the second leader of Simon Pelé’s gang has died.
- The clashes in Cité-Soleil and Delmas have displaced 2,300 people.
- Activities in the centre of Port-au-Prince are slowly starting up again, with businesses opening up and heavy traffic in some areas.
- The general hospital remains closed, leaving the Peace University Hospital to be the only functioning hospital in the metropolitan area, and often functioning at overcapacity.
- 27 people died and over 30 were injured in an accidental fuel tanker explosion in Miragoâne.
- The Haitian National Police Force has been conducting operations in a number of areas, including Bel-Air, La Saline and Gressier. Members of the Village-de-Dieu gang who were using the Port-au-Prince cemetery were neutralised, easing the situation around Champs-des-Marches.
- Haiti’s government has relaunched a multisectoral emergency programme to support vulnerable groups, focusing on cash transfers for parents in public schools, along with projects targeting food security, small businesses, and social reintegration, funded by the national treasury and the IMF.
- The Prime Minister’s Office has indicated that the government is doing everything possible to strengthen the security of Port-au-Prince’s port to facilitate the circulation and docking of boats.
- A police officer was killed in Delmas on 23 September, while another officer was injured. They were attacked by armed men on a minibus.
- The director of the National Office of Migration was murdered by armed men on 18 September, while the top lawyer Artist Rémy, who was also the Secretary General of the Fort-Liberté bar association, was shot dead in Ouanaminthe on 16 September.
- There was a 22% increase in Internally Displaced People (IDP) in Haiti between August and 4 September 2024. The increase was partially fueled by violence in Gressier, displacing 5000 people. The number of IDPs in Port-au-Prince decreased by 6%. Approximately half of IDPs are children.
- Tensions between displaced and host communities have been rising, especially in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince.
- Over 17,300 Haitians were forcibly returned by neighbouring countries in August. Many of these faced mistreatment and violence.
- The Dominican Republic continues to deport large numbers of Haitian nationals, including 59 unaccompanied minors in September, sparking concern from Haitian officials. They demand that the Dominican government respect diplomatic agreements, particularly regarding child protection.
- Agricultural production is currently below the seasonal average due to excess rainfall, scarcity of seeds, a decrease in cultivated land, and high labour costs.
Situation on the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission
- 20 Jamaican soldiers, four Jamaican police officers, and two senior officers from Belize landed in Haiti on 12 September to join the MSS mission.
- The Bahamas will deploy troops next week, according to the leader of the MSS mission, Godfrey Otunge.
- Kenyan President, William Ruto, promised the deployment of 600 more Kenyan officers to Haiti in the coming weeks – on top of the 400 that have already been deployed.
- The President Arévalo of Guatemala announced the deployment of 150 military officers for the MSS mission during the meeting of the Special Advisory Group on Haiti of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on 23 September.
- An official press release was published by the MSS mission on 17 September discussing the advancements made by the mission, including arrests of gang members, the destruction of barricades, targeted operations in gang controlled areas, and the pacification of areas.
International situation
- UN human rights expert, William O’Neill, reported after visiting Haiti that the mission is inadequately equipped and that less than a quarter of the promised personnel has been deployed.
- He further discussed the high levels of displacement, the high inflation and lack of basic goods, the spread of gang violence to new areas, the rampant sexual violence, and child trafficking and the poor conditions in the prisons, with inmates dying of undernourishment and bad sanitation.
- UN Secretary General António Guterres lamented over the lack of funding for the MSS mission, stating: “When people are suffering in such a desperate situation, and we only need a relatively small amount of money, I think it is totally unacceptable that this money is not available.”
- Haitian Bridge Alliance filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump and JD Vance in Ohio, accusing them of spreading false and harmful claims about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, including allegations that they eat pets, which has led to threats and bomb scares targeting the community.
- The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) condemned recent attacks on Haitian Times journalists after they debunked false claims about Haitian immigrants in Ohio eating pets. The journalists have faced harassment and threats.
- NABJ called for action from authorities and social media platforms against disinformation and emphasized the vital role of journalism in upholding truth, urging protection and training for reporters facing threats.
Links of interest
Haiti announces a new Provisional Electoral Council
Cité Soleil: Controversial Penalty Triggers Another Gang War
Haiti: Emergency Situation Report No. 34 (As of 14 September 2024)
Timide reprise des activités au centre-ville de Port-au-Prince, l’Hôpital général toujours isolé
27 morts lors de l’explosion d’un camion-citerne à Miragoâne, Garry Conille visite les rescapés
The “Small Victories” of the PNH
9 milliards pour des programmes sociaux
Le directeur régional de l’ONM tué par balle au Cap-Haïtien
Le secrétaire général du barreau de Fort-Liberté tué par balle à Ouanaminthe
Augmentation des personnes déplacées et défis pour les communautés hôtes
IOM Situation report
Nord-Est : des mineurs haïtiens déportés sans leurs parents par la République dominicaine
Haiti – Key Message Update: The uptick in insecurity reduces the impact of spring harvests on poor households’ food consumption (August 2024)
Jamaican soldiers join Kenyans in Haiti mission as fight against gangs intensifies
Haiti – Security : The Bahamas will deploy troops next week…
Kenya to send 600 more police officers to Haiti
Haiti – FLASH : Guatemala confirms it will send 150 soldiers to Haiti
Haiti: UN human rights expert William O’Neill concludes official visit, laments bleak situation
Where’s the money for Haiti? UN secretary presses for support as a key summit nears
Update on the MSSM Haiti 17th Sep 2024
Haitian Bridge Alliance saisit la justice contre Trump et Vance dans l’Ohio
La NABJ condamne les attaques contre les journalistes haïtiens et la diffusion délibérée de la désinformation
Disclaimer: All information in this Situation Report is presented as a fluid update report, as to the best knowledge and understanding of the authors at the moment of publication. Haiti Matters does not claim that the information is correct but verifies to the best of ability within the circumstances. Publication is weighed on the basis of interest to understand potential impacts of events (or perceptions of these) on the situation. Check all information against updates and other media. Haiti Matters does not take responsibility for the use of the information or impact thereof. All information reported originates from third parties and the content of all reported and linked information remains the sole responsibility of these third parties. Report to info@haiti-matters.org any additional information and corrections.