World Report 2023: Haiti
Date of Publication
1-1-2023 12:00 AM
Security Theme
Human Rights
Keywords
Haiti crisis, Political crisis, Humanitarian crisis, Gang violence, Cholera outbreak, Constitutional crisis, human rights
Description
In 2022, Haiti endured a prolonged political, security, and humanitarian crisis, marked by non-functioning government branches and rampant human rights violations. Armed gangs strengthened their control over key areas, exacerbating violence and impeding the distribution of essential resources, notably fuel. This crisis left businesses, schools, and hospitals in dire straits and led to scarcities of basic necessities such as water and telecommunications. With over 42% of the population requiring humanitarian assistance and nearly 40% facing acute food insecurity, the situation was dire. The United States and other nations repatriated roughly 41,000 Haitians from January 2021 to September 2022, while the Dominican Republic expelled nearly 59,000 people. Massive demonstrations erupted in late August, protesting against escalating gang violence, widespread hunger, inadequate public services, surging inflation, and fuel price hikes. A cholera outbreak claimed at least 223 lives by November 27.The constitutional crisis, stemming from the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, persisted as Prime Minister Ariel Henry governed without parliamentary approval, and the justice system barely functioned. The appointment of additional judges was hampered by the absence of an elected president and a functioning Senate. Haiti's prisons suffered from severe overcrowding and inhumane conditions, while violence escalated, with numerous documented massacres. Human rights defenders, journalists, and judges faced attacks, threats, and intimidation. The education system struggled to recover from the 2021 earthquake, and gender-based violence persisted. Migration pressures mounted, and international actors played a role in addressing the ongoing crisis, including the extension of the United Nations' mandate and the imposition of sanctions on gang leaders and individuals associated with drug trafficking.
World Report 2023: Haiti
In 2022, Haiti endured a prolonged political, security, and humanitarian crisis, marked by non-functioning government branches and rampant human rights violations. Armed gangs strengthened their control over key areas, exacerbating violence and impeding the distribution of essential resources, notably fuel. This crisis left businesses, schools, and hospitals in dire straits and led to scarcities of basic necessities such as water and telecommunications. With over 42% of the population requiring humanitarian assistance and nearly 40% facing acute food insecurity, the situation was dire. The United States and other nations repatriated roughly 41,000 Haitians from January 2021 to September 2022, while the Dominican Republic expelled nearly 59,000 people. Massive demonstrations erupted in late August, protesting against escalating gang violence, widespread hunger, inadequate public services, surging inflation, and fuel price hikes. A cholera outbreak claimed at least 223 lives by November 27.The constitutional crisis, stemming from the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, persisted as Prime Minister Ariel Henry governed without parliamentary approval, and the justice system barely functioned. The appointment of additional judges was hampered by the absence of an elected president and a functioning Senate. Haiti's prisons suffered from severe overcrowding and inhumane conditions, while violence escalated, with numerous documented massacres. Human rights defenders, journalists, and judges faced attacks, threats, and intimidation. The education system struggled to recover from the 2021 earthquake, and gender-based violence persisted. Migration pressures mounted, and international actors played a role in addressing the ongoing crisis, including the extension of the United Nations' mandate and the imposition of sanctions on gang leaders and individuals associated with drug trafficking.
