Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, is currently facing a dire situation as violent armed gangs have taken control of more than 80 percent of the city. The streets are plagued with violence, dysfunction, and the stench of decaying corpses. The absence of a functioning state has allowed the gangs to terrorize the population with impunity.
The article begins with a chilling scene of a motorcycle taxi ride through the gang-controlled streets. The smell of something burning fills the air, and a charred corpse lies in the middle of the street. This grisly sight has become a common occurrence in Port-au-Prince, where bodies are left where they fell, and residents stumble upon them when they dare to leave their homes.
The violence and dysfunction in the city have reached unprecedented levels. Public services were already limited before the recent events, with trash piling up in slums and the resurgence of cholera. The gangs have added to the chaos by engaging in systematic rape, indiscriminate kidnapping, and mass killings. The situation worsened when two of the city’s largest prisons were attacked, freeing thousands of inmates, including notorious criminals. Now, gangs have attacked critical infrastructure such as the airport and main port, leaving hospitals closed and security forces scarce.
The article highlights the plight of Lyonel Milfort, a morgue director who has been unable to retrieve bodies due to the dangerous conditions. He describes the heartbreaking scenes of bodies being eaten by dogs and covered with sheets. Romain Le Cour, a political scientist, explains that these unretrieved bodies reflect extreme levels of violence, pressure on the population, and a sense of hopelessness and abandonment.
The absence of leadership exacerbates the crisis. Prime Minister Ariel Henry has been silent, and Haitians don’t even know his whereabouts. The former police officer turned gang leader, Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier, has issued an ultimatum to Henry, demanding his resignation or else face a civil war. With the presidency vacant since the assassination of Jovenel Moïse and the National Assembly empty, Henry is left to lead what remains of the government, despite being unelected and unpopular.
The United States has been pressuring Henry to work with a transitional council to bring about elections, but he has shown an unwillingness to cede real power. The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and Caribbean Community leaders have urged him to make concessions, but the situation has only worsened. The U.S. and Caricom have proposed an expedited transition of power, but Henry has not yet publicly accepted the proposal.
Amidst the violence, people in Port-au-Prince are slowly re-emerging from their homes in search of food and fuel. Gas stations see long lines, and a black market for fuel is emerging. However, the streets are still dangerous, with corpses lying on the roads. Residents have resorted to burning the bodies themselves due to the absence of anyone who can pick them up.
The article concludes with the words of Jonathan Lindor, who witnessed the dire conditions firsthand. He describes seeing three bleeding corpses lying on the road and the unbearable smell that forced neighbors to burn the remains. Lindor explains that citizens have formed neighborhood vigilante groups to protect themselves since the government is absent. However, he emphasizes that these conditions are unlike anything he has seen before, with an absent government leaving citizens to clear the streets of corpses themselves.
In conclusion, Port-au-Prince is facing a devastating crisis as violent armed gangs have taken control of the city. The absence of a functioning state has allowed the violence and dysfunction to reach unprecedented levels. The stench of decaying corpses fills the streets, and residents are left to fend for themselves amidst chaos and despair. The situation calls for urgent action and international support to restore order and provide much-needed assistance to the people of Haiti.
