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Situation in Haiti
- Four police sub-stations and two prisons, Croix-des-Bouquets civil prison and the women’s prison in Cabaret, were attacked by gang members of the coalition “vivre ensemble”.
- There were also reports that a police officer was decapitated by gang members.
- Gun fights took place in Gressier on 23 May between police officers and gangs. Since the gangs briefly took control of the commune on 12 May, instability has remained in the area. On 19 May, several gang members were killed in the shootings.
- Three missionaries, two US citizens and one Haitian, were shot by gang members in Port-au-Prince on 23 May.
- Members of the gang “400 Mawozo” carried out an attack on the commune of Thomazeau on 21 Maymaps, leading to the death of four people and the burning of a dozen homes.
- A tornado in the commune of Bassin-Bleu led to at least 36 injured and resulted in a lot of damage.
- The International Airport Toussaint Louverture in Port-au-Prince reopened on 20 May. Although American flights have not yet started using the airport.
- Activities in the port of Port-au-Prince resumed as security conditions around the port improved.
- The shortage of medicine and supplies is worsening, with painkillers and anesthetics starting to run out and over 30 health facilities and hospitals have closed in Port-au-Prince.
- Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) stated that it has not been possible to import supplies into Haiti since mid-March and urged armed groups and authorities to facilitate the delivery of medical supplies.
- MSF stated that it would have to reduce the operations in two weeks if they did not get supplies.
- A vaccination campaign against Diphtheria is ongoing in the departments of Artibonite, Center, Grande-Anse, Nippes, North, North-East, South, and South-East, targeting 348,680 children.
- In 2023, 216,677 Haitian migrants were sent back to Haiti. The large majority of these (208,169) were sent back by the Dominican Republic. Many of the Haitians that have been sent back, have already been returned several times.
- The UN has called on the US to stop returning Haitian refugees to Haiti, after a US deportation flight landed in Haiti on 16 May.
- The policy director at the International Refugee Assistance Project, Sunil Varghese, urged for Haiti to be designated for temporary protected status (TPS), which is normally granted to nationals of countries in which the conditions are too dangerous to return to.
- The Apostolic Nuncio of the Vatican Catholic church has been transferred from Haiti.
Situation on the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT)
- Dr. Garry Conille has been unanimously elected as the Prime Minister of the Presidential Transitional Council. Conille is a United Nations development expert and has already served as Prime Minister in the past.
- The CPT has been criticised for its lack of transparency in the process of choosing a prime minister and its fragile legitimacy, with none of the members having produced the needed documents to prove that they meet the legal requirements to be part of the council.
Situation on the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission
- The arrival of the first contingency of Kenyan troops, consisting of 200 police officers, in Haiti which was planned for 23 May has been delayed.
- A Kenyan delegation arrived in Haiti on 20 May to inspect the airport and the base being constructed by the US. The delegation soon left the country, assessing that Haiti was not yet ready for the deployment as the construction of the base they would be operating from was unfinished.
- The Kenyan delegation was concerned by the lack of helicopters for medical evacuations. It is still not clear who will be providing the helicopters.
- Two lawyers leading an opposition party in Kenya have filed a lawsuit towards high-ranking government officials, stating that Ruto and the police disobeyed the court order rules in January by signing a reciprocal agreement with Haiti. A hearing has been scheduled for 12 June.
- Human Rights Watch has stated that the UN Security Council is still waiting to receive required information from the MSS mission on the rules of engagement, accountability mechanisms, human rights safeguards and due diligence for the forces.
- Reporters Without Borders (RSF) urged the MSS mission to prioritise the protection of journalists.
- Gangs in Haiti are showing a more united front ahead of the deployment of the MSS mission. It is believed that they are relying on the head of the security unit that protected former president Jovenel Moïse, who is able to provide the gangs with access to weapons from Colombia.
International situation
- Kenyan President William Ruto arrived in Washington on 22 May for a three day state-visit. Ruto and Biden discussed the deployment of Kenyan troops to Haiti.
- US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, met with the President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, to discuss the situation in Haiti and support for human rights related to the deportation of Haitians.
Links of interest
Destruction of Police Stations and Prisons Continues
‘The gangs are in charge’: Haiti’s outgunned police fight a desperate rear defence
Haiti gangs brutally behead police officer as scores killed in horrifying violent wave
Police and Bandits Engage in Intense Gun Battle in Gressier
Three missionaries, including American couple, killed in gang violence in Haiti
Thomazeau Hit by Deadly “400 Mawozo” Gang Attack, Municipal Leaders Call for Last-Ditch Help
Une tornade fait plusieurs dizaines de blessés à Bassin-Bleu dans le Nord-Ouest
Haiti’s main international airport reopens almost three months after gang violence forced it to close
Activities Resume at Port-au-Prince Port Facilities
Haiti gangs continue to wreak havoc on health system
Urgent need of medical supplies in Haiti as extreme violence isolates people in need
Diphtheria Vaccination : WHO supports the Ministry of Health
Plus de 216 000 Haïtiens ont été forcés de retourner en Haïti en 2023, selon l’OIM
UN urges US to stop forced returns to Haiti after latest deportation flight
L’itinéraire de Garry Conille
UN expert, former prime minister is named to lead Haiti’s transitional government
Delays, court challenge threaten to derail Kenya’s mission in Haiti
Kenyan police leaders arrive in Haiti ahead of planned deployment
A foreign force was set to arrive in Haiti this week. What happened?
Kenyan lawyers move to block police deployment to Haiti
Kenya-Led Security Mission Prepares for Deployment in Haiti
Kenyan-led international security mission in Haiti urged to prioritise protection of journalists
Haiti Gangs Change Tactics Ahead of Kenyan Police Officers Deployment
‘Major non-NATO ally’: What does Biden’s new Kenya pledge mean?
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken discusses Haiti
Disclaimer: All information in this Situation Report is presented as a fluid update report, as to the best knowledge and understanding of the authors at the moment of publication. Haiti Matters does not claim that the information is correct but verifies to the best of ability within the circumstances. Publication is weighed on the basis of interest to understand potential impacts of events (or perceptions of these) on the situation. Check all information against updates and other media. Haiti Matters does not take responsibility for the use of the information or impact thereof. All information reported originates from third parties and the content of all reported and linked information remains the sole responsibility of these third parties. Report to info@haiti-matters.org any additional information and corrections.