The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative
Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other
shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org.
March 23, 2023

U.N. Calls for Intervention in Haiti After Gang Violence Claims Hundreds of Lives
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The United Nations is calling for an international "specialized support
force" to deploy to Haiti to help stem a worsening gang crisis, which
has already killed over 530 people this year. Gang violence steadily
rose amid mounting political and economic instability following the 2021
assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. Gangs now control over half of
Haiti, while some 160,000 have been displaced, many now living in
makeshift homes.

Natacha Germain: "The gangs invaded us. I lost my husband because of the
gang war. I am alone with my children. I was living on the street, and
after many searches, they found this place for us to stay in. Now I
can't go back home. I lost everything."

Half of Haiti's population does not have enough food. The U.N. warns
children are especially at risk of gang violence and face kidnappings,
forced recruitment and sexual violence.


.