 "Haiti gang violence: Central American military police arrive to support govt efforts in Caribbean island")
Around 150 military police officers from Central America have begun arriving in Haiti to support the government’s effort to combat violent gangs that have destabilised life for millions on the Caribbean island.
The first group of 75 troops, primarily from Guatemala with a smaller contingent from El Salvador, arrived Friday at Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince. They were greeted by top Haitian officials, security leaders, and US Ambassador to Haiti Dennis Hankins. A second group of similar size is expected Saturday to join the United Nations-backed mission aimed at restoring order.
Haiti has been grappling with escalating gang violence, particularly since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise. Gangs are estimated to control roughly 85 per cent of the capital, launching coordinated attacks on prisons, police stations, and even the main international airport.
On Christmas Eve, gunmen opened fire on a crowd celebrating the reopening of Haiti’s largest public hospital, which had been shuttered earlier this year following gang violence. Two journalists covering the event and a police officer were killed in what authorities described as one of the most brazen attacks yet.
The international security mission has so far been led by around 400 officers from Kenya. Additional personnel from the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, and Chad have been pledged, but it remains unclear when they will arrive.
The newly deployed Central American forces mark a significant expansion of international efforts to support Haiti’s embattled government as it struggles to restore safety and stability.
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