They lack guns, bullets and body armor. How are Haiti’s cops confronting gangs?
MiamiheraldJul 07, 2022
The National Human Rights Defense Network declared on Wed. that at least 89 have been killed, 16 are missing, and 74 have been wounded following a week of fighting between rival gangs in Cité Soleil, a poor and densely populated neighborhood of Port-au-Prince.
Clashes erupted a day after the first anniversary of the killing of Pres. Jovenel Moïse, reportedly between the G9 gang coalition and the G-Pep group. This transformed the area into a "real battlefield" per Doctors Without Borders.
Haitian police are unfairly positioned to tackle gang violence. While the criminals are heavily armed with smuggled US-made assault-style rifles, security forces are under-equipped and must rely on seized weapons, as US laws ironically restrict their access to arms. Foreign governments aren't doing enough.
The US has been taking bold measures to help Haiti counter the concerning surge in gang violence, including providing armored vehicles and weapons. The possibility of establishing an international coalition involving Canada and France to back Haitian law enforcement agencies is being examined, and US personnel are expected to train Haitian defense forces this year.