International Organization at UN reports that over half of gang members in Haiti are minors; Countries like US and Panama are planning a security unit to combat these groups, albeit facing challenges with a current Kenyan-led law enforcement mission.
In the Caribbean nation of Haiti, the situation continues to be marred by violence and instability. The United Nations Security Council approved a Kenya-led mission to support Haiti's police in October 2023, but the forces have struggled to make an impact due to lack of funding and resources.
The gangs' control has resulted in blocked roads, limited public services, and skyrocketing costs for essential supplies, including food. This has forced nearly 1.3 million Haitians to flee their homes, with an estimated 50% being young people.
The resulting violence has been devastating. Nearly 5,000 people have been killed as a result of gang violence from October 2022 to June 2023. The number of child recruits in Haiti appears to be rapidly rising, with a surge of 700% in the first three months of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. Children are being forced into combat roles, participating in armed confrontations, and used as couriers, lookouts, porters to carry weapons, or exploited for domestic labor.
The US Ambassador to the UN, Dorothy Shea, announced that the US and Panama would put forward a draft resolution to establish a security force aimed at confronting the gangs. However, critics have expressed concerns about potential foreign intervention in Haiti due to the country's history with colonial and military occupation.
The UN has previously warned that gangs have gained "near-total control" of the capital, Port-au-Prince, with as much as 90% of the city under their influence. The head of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Catherine Russell, announced the "alarming" statistics and pushed for more support in Haiti.
The Haitian government has recently sought greater collaboration with private security firms such as Vectus Global, run by private military entrepreneur Erik Prince, who has ties to US President Donald Trump. However, it is unclear how the proposed security force would intersect with the existing UN-backed security force.
Despite the severity of the violence in Haiti, migrants and refugees fleeing the turmoil have struggled to find safety in other countries. In 2024, the United Nations reported over 2,000 grave violations against minors, a 500% increase from the previous year. The UN reported in August 2023 that a proposed response plan to address the crisis in Haiti had received less than 10 percent of its funding goal.
The UN Security Council resolution regarding the fight against Haitian gangs or the cooperation of UN-supported security forces with such a solution is not available. The crisis in Haiti remains a significant concern for the international community, with the need for funding, resources, and a coordinated response to address the ongoing violence and protect the vulnerable population, particularly children.
