Haiti's humanitarian crisis has escalated sharply in recent weeks, with armed groups consolidating control over key areas of the capital Port-au-Prince and beyond. Reports indicate nearly 60% of the city now operates under gang authority, triggering mass displacement and crippling access to basic services.
The violence coincides with prolonged political deadlock following Prime Minister Ariel Henry's resignation in March. Experts warn the power vacuum allows criminal networks to expand illicit activities, including weapons trafficking and kidnapping-for-ransom operations.
Harold Isaac, a journalist on the ground, described neighborhoods transformed into 'ghost towns' as residents flee confrontations. 'Schools remain shuttered, hospitals can't handle trauma cases, and 1.4 million people now face acute food insecurity,' he told KhabarAsia.com.
While Kenya prepares to lead a UN-backed security mission, analysts question whether international intervention can address systemic corruption and weak governance. The crisis has displaced over 300,000 people since January, with many seeking refuge in overloaded southern regions.
