Haiti’s prime minister has landed in Puerto Rico, clearing uncertainty around his whereabouts since a trip to Kenya, but questions on how and when he will return to Haiti still linger as gangs back home push for his ouster.
Ariel Henry travelled to Kenya last week to seal a deal to launch a UN-backed multinational security force to fight gangs in Haiti, which sparked violence and calls by a top gang leader for him to step down and stay away from the country.
Puerto Rico’s governor’s office confirmed that Mr Henry had landed in capital San Juan, after reports from local media said the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, had earlier not authorised his plane to land.
Haiti’s government declared a state of emergency on Sunday after inmates escaped in two major prison breaks, halting businesses, including airports, which have seen heavy gunfire take place near them in recent days.
The United Nations’ immigration office said during the weekend that at least 15,000 people had been displaced due to violence.
Haiti’s breadbasket farming region but whose residents are now facing food shortages as fighting spreads north.
Following an assessment of 500 testimonies, it found many families were skipping food for a day, over half of children were out of school, and a lack of money meant many felt they had no choice but to join gangs. Some 30% to 50% of gang members are estimated to be minors, the group said.
Country director Allassane Drabo said girls were at particular risk of forced marriage, with parents unable to meet basic needs.
Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021, violent gangs have expanded control of their territory. Mr Henry – who leads an unelected interim government – had pledged to step down by February, but delayed the process, citing lack of security.
‘Drastic measures’
In recent days, countries in the region have withdrawn embassy staff and advised their citizens to leave.
The Dominican Republic, which has had an often fractious relationship with its island neighbour, has sought to strengthen its border security and said it will not set up refugee camps for fleeing Haitians.
Jean Tholbert Alexis, an official from Mr Henry’s government, said on X that the Dominican decision not to allow the prime minister’s plane to land was an unprecedented “diplomatic blunder.”
Support from abroad has been scarce. The UN last year authorised a security mission but a deployment date has not been set. As of late February, the UN said five nations had formally pledged troops, with less than $11 million deposited into a fund.
Humanitarian aid groups say they are chronically under-funded and workers have struggled to keep delivering services due to the violence.
The UN estimates the conflict has driven some 300,000 from their homes and that gangs last year killed close to 5,000 people and kidnapped nearly 2,500.
Hoping to shore up public support, gang leader Jimmy Cherizier, known as Barbeque, said an alliance of gangs known as Viv Ansanm (Living Together) would soon release their hostages without ransom, local media reported.
