Haiti's Government Approves 'War Budget' Amid Rising Gang Violence

Photo : Reuters

Haiti’s government has announced a "war budget" of $275,000 to help fight against the growing gang violence in the country. The money is being used to help solve the problem and restore safety, especially as more towns fall into the control of gangs.

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Almost 40% of the budget will be used to support Haiti’s police and military, helping them fight the gangs that are causing trouble. About 20% of the money will be spent on protecting the border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The rest of the budget, around 16%, will go to help people through programs that focus on healthcare, education, and other social needs. The government says this budget shows their commitment to acting quickly and solving the violence.

However, this money might not be enough to help the United Nations mission in Haiti, which is being led by Kenyan police. This mission is struggling to help local authorities stop the gang violence.

Right now, gangs control 85% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and are attacking other nearby towns. Recently, a gang group called Viv Ansanm took control of the towns of Mirebalais and Saut-d’Eau in central Haiti. In Mirebalais, the police and prison staff ran away when the gangs attacked. The gangs set fire to the police station and took control of the prison, helping many prisoners escape. The local hospital also had to evacuate.

At least 60 people were killed in the attacks in Mirebalais and Saut-d’Eau, including gang members and escaped prisoners. The gangs are becoming more powerful and taking over more areas. Some people believe that the lack of police in Saut-d’Eau made it easier for the gangs to attack after they were sent to Mirebalais.

Among the people killed were two nuns and a police officer, and two journalists are still missing. Local groups have said that they warned the government about the dangers but were ignored. These groups say the government does not have a good plan to stop the gangs, and the police are always reacting to the violence instead of preventing it.

In addition to the attacks in these towns, more than 260 people were killed in January by gangs in the capital. Recently, there was another attack in Kenscoff, which left one police officer missing and others hurt. From January to March 27, over 1,500 people were killed, and more than 570 were injured because of gang violence. More than a million people have been forced to leave their homes because of the gangs.

Haiti is facing a major crisis as gangs continue to grow stronger, and the government is struggling to stop them. The new war budget might help in some ways, but more work needs to be done to solve the problem and keep people safe.