This report provides a harrowing and in-depth look at the escalating crisis in Haiti, where gangs now control an estimated 90% of the capital, Port-au-Prince. It highlights the near-total collapse of government authority, the severe outmatching of police forces, and the resulting daily struggle for survival faced by ordinary Haitians. The report details the dramatic increase in violence, with over 4,000 fatalities in the past six months alone, and emphasizes the disproportionate suffering of women and children, who are frequently victims of sexual violence, some as young as six. Compounding the crisis are cuts to US aid, leaving vulnerable communities without essential food, healthcare, or protection. The report features rare access to gang-controlled areas and interviews with both victims and a gang leader, revealing the brutal tactics of "Vivens" (a powerful gang coalition), the limited effectiveness of international forces like the Kenyan police, and the controversial deployment of US private military contractors. It also captures the desperation of over a million displaced people living in dire conditions, with many expressing a longing for peace over mere survival.
Haiti's Unfolding Crisis: Gang Control, Violence, and Humanitarian Catastrophe
0:02 Capital Under Siege: Gangs control an estimated 90% of Port-au-Prince, with government authority collapsed and police outmatched, leading to a daily struggle for survival for ordinary Haitians.
0:16 Escalating Violence and Aid Cuts: Over 4,000 people have been killed in the past six months, with violence and insecurity displacing over a million people. Cuts to US aid are exacerbating the crisis, limiting access to food, healthcare, and protection.
0:41 Women and Children Most Vulnerable: Women and children are suffering disproportionately; one in five sexual violence victims is a child, with some victims as young as six.
1:13 Relentless Violence and Community Resistance: Residents express desperation against gangs who "kill anything," while vigilante civilians are stepping in to fill the security vacuum in contested territories.
2:21 Delmas 30: A Neighborhood in Ruins: The report visits Delmas 30, a scene of a recent gang attack, where women were raped, families murdered, and homes burned. Rodrig, a former resident, describes the ambush and mass casualties, with bodies carried out in wheelbarrows.
4:21 Rape as a Weapon: At a safe house for survivors, the report highlights the systematic use of rape as a weapon, with interviewed victims ranging from 12 to 19 years old, sharing harrowing stories of captivity and abuse, including a 17-year-old forced to choose between abortion or carrying a gang leader's child.
6:00 "Worst Place to Be a Woman": A UN Women representative states that Port-au-Prince is the "worst place in the world to be a woman" due to direct violence, displacement, and lack of basic services in overcrowded, unsafe centers.
6:42 Interview with a Gang Leader: Reporter gains access to "Vag," a leader of the powerful "Vivens" coalition, who shows no remorse for the atrocities (rape, murder, arson) committed by his group, stating they become "the devil" when fighting and will not give up until the state engages in dialogue. He admits to killing people without seeing them and wearing "chains and rings" from victims to "command the spirit of the dead."
8:31 Limited Impact of Kenyan Forces: Kenyan forces, present for a year with heavy equipment, are struggling against increasingly organized and powerful gangs. The reporting team comes under fire, highlighting the dangers and the overwhelming numbers of gang members.
10:01 Introduction of Private Military Contractors: Haitian Security Forces have reportedly hired US private military contractors, including those potentially linked to Eric Prince (Blackwater founder), who are using drones and recruiting mercenaries to fight the gangs, leading to one gang leader being critically targeted.
11:15 Mass Displacement and Dire Conditions: Over a million people are displaced, living in squalid conditions like a former public works ministry. Rodrig, now a displaced tailor, expresses despair at starting over at 61 with no jobs.
12:22 Heartbreaking Personal Stories: Gnos and her four children live in two rooms with 20 extended family members after losing their home and family in Delmas 30, highlighting their struggle to find food and basic necessities.
12:49 Humanitarian Aid in Jeopardy: US aid, a lifeline for Haiti, is being cut, with warnings that vulnerable women will be forced to find food "somehow," increasing their risk.
14:16 Escalating Sexual Violence: MSF data reveals a near-tripling of sexual abuse victims since 2021, with survivors reporting multiple aggressors (up to 20 per victim) and 20% of patients being under 18, some as young as six.
15:04 Cycle of Violence and Self-Defense: Young boys join gangs for money due to poverty. Despite government reinforcements, many citizens are left to defend themselves, accepting constant gunshots as a normal part of life.
16:11 Desperate for Peace: The people of Haiti are desperate for relief, longing for a life of peace rather than mere survival.