Shortly after a Kenyan court barred the UN-backed police force from entering Haiti to assist in combating gangs, the beleaguered Caribbean nation’s radio stations were inundated with calls.
Since the decision on Friday, there has been an increase in uncertainty and dread, and as gangs firmly establish their hold over the capital of Haiti and beyond, there have been unprecedented levels of violence.
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Diego Da Rin was forewarned by the International Crisis Group, “Absent a robust external mission that would be deployed very soon, we are facing quite a tragic scenario in Haiti.”
Approximately 80% of Haiti’s capital is controlled by gangs, and in recent weeks, these gangs have assaulted and taken over formerly calm areas, leaving scores dead or injured and raising fears that they could soon take over the whole city of Port-au-Prince.
According to the most current UN figures, the number of recorded deaths in Haiti increased by more than twice to almost 4,500, while the number of reported kidnappings increased by more than 80% to almost 2,500 instances.
According to a UN study this week, the National Police of Haiti is losing personnel at “an alarming rate,” and the gangs that remain control those who are still in service.
Last year, more than 1,600 cops were let go from the department, and 48 more were reportedly slain.
Furthermore, severe gang fighting has destroyed equipment that the international community supplied to support an understaffed police agency. As of mid-November, just 21 of the 47 armored vehicles were in service, with 19 “severely damaged during anti-gang operations or broken down,” stated a recent report. According to the statement, the remaining seven cars “are permanently disabled.”
“The situation has gone overboard. Enough is enough,” remarked a guy venting on Radio Caraibes over Friday’s judgment, identifying himself as Pastor Malory Laurent. “Every day, you feel there is no hope.”
The Kenyan government declared it will challenge the decision. It is unclear, however, how long that may take and if other nations who committed to sending smaller forces to support the multinational operation would think about going it alone.
States including the Bahamas, Jamaica, Belize, Burundi, Chad, and Senegal were among those preparing to deploy troops.
“All I will say at this time is that this is a major setback for the people of Haiti who yearn to have a stable country to live in,” said Roosevelt Skerrit, the prime minister of Dominica and the former leader of Caricom, a Caribbean economic organization that has recently dispatched teams to Haiti in an effort to quell the turmoil.
“The decision of the Kenyan court warrants an emergency meeting of the friends of Haiti to determine with the Haitian people the plan B.”
Both the offices of Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis did not respond to queries seeking comment.
As it waits for news from Jamaica, the trade group is expected to meet shortly to examine the ramifications of the verdict, according to Hugh Todd, the foreign minister of Guyana, who spoke to a news media press.
“We will have to see if there is any legal space for us to operate,” He remarked, asking whether there were any alternative legal choices available that would enable Kenya and other nations to proceed.
Upon the court’s decision, UN representatives have remained silent.
