Published on: 2026-07-20
Source: United Nations – Объединенные Нации –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Daniel Dickinson
July 20, 2026 Peace and Security
For millions of Haitians, everyday life has turned into an endless struggle for survival: they are constantly searching for food and dream of moving around their own neighborhood without risking their lives. Well-armed gangs control many areas of the capital and are expanding their influence to other parts of the country.
Residents of Port-au-Prince are leaving their homes en masse; schools and medical centers are closed; humanitarian organizations are struggling to meet growing needs due to rapidly decreasing funding.
During one of the major outbreaks of violence in the Cité Soleil area of Port-au-Prince earlier this year, at least 542 people were killed and 355 were injured. During these clashes, at least 176 women and girls were raped. Increasingly, children are being drawn into the crisis, many of whom have been forced to leave their homes. They are recruited into gangs or subjected to brutal violence.
Nevertheless, amidst the overall crisis, there are some signs of progress. The authorities of Haiti are actively advancing long-delayed plans to restore democratic governance through elections; security forces have begun to displace gangs from some strategically important areas; international aid is arriving in the country to combat violence.
Millions are in need of aid, the supplies of which are running out
The humanitarian crisis is worsening as violence, forced displacement, and economic hardships continue to mutually reinforce each other. About 6.4 million people — more than half the country’s population — are in need of humanitarian aid. Approximately 1.47 million Haitians have been forced to leave their homes due to violence, which is undermining the healthcare system, clean water supply, and the education process. It is expected that more than 5.8 million people in the country will suffer from hunger this year.
Humanitarian programs for Haiti in 2026 are facing a severe funding shortage. By mid-June, only 25 percent of the necessary $880 million had been received, limiting life-saving operations.
Will Haiti be able to hold elections?
Due to prolonged instability and lack of security in Haiti, there has been no elected president since the assassination of Jovenel Moïse in July 2021.
The restoration of democratic governance remains one of the country’s primary tasks; however, conducting fair elections is impossible without significant improvements in local conditions. Armed gangs still control many areas and main roads, which complicates voter registration, transportation of election materials, and ensuring public safety.
Despite this, preparations for the elections have accelerated in recent months. Thanks to the approved budget of $120 million for conducting the voting, there is hope that the first round of elections will take place by the end of 2026, allowing the elected president to take office in February of the following year.
Does the fight against gangs yield real results?
For the first time in many months, Haitian security forces have begun to achieve certain, albeit limited, successes in the fight against armed gangs.
Specialized police units have driven criminal gangs out of several strategically important districts of Port-au-Prince, allowing traffic to resume on some main roads and public institutions to reopen in certain areas of the city center.
An important event was the creation of the Anti-Gang Units – an international mission to ensure security in Haiti with UN support. It is intended to help Haiti regain control over areas controlled by criminal gangs. In June, the mission began patrolling Port-au-Prince. During one of its first operations, the Anti-Gang Units arrested 14 suspects and seized hundreds of bottles of incendiary mixture.
Two specialized judicial units began operating simultaneously, focusing on investigating mass crimes, cases of sexual violence, and major financial fraud.
Mass human rights violations
Egregious human rights violations continue throughout Haiti. Armed gangs are committing murders, kidnappings, rapes, and forced displacement of entire communities. Sexual violence is increasingly used to intimidate residents of areas controlled by gangs.
Self-defense groups and enraged mobs killed dozens of people suspected of collaborating with gangs. According to available data, at least 87 people died during such reprisals. Some of these people were beaten to death, and their bodies were burned.
There are also reports of alleged abuses by Haitian security forces personnel: these involve 40 extrajudicial killings committed by police officers.
Way forward
The political and humanitarian crises, as well as the security crisis in Haiti, are deeply interconnected. Without improvements in security, it will be difficult to hold elections. Without strengthening the state governance system, it will be hard to maintain the achieved security gains. And none of this will work if millions of people continue to suffer from hunger, forced displacement, and violence.
Please note; This information is raw content obtained directly from the information source. It represents an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.