Access to the crucial Caribbean Port Services (CPS) in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, is being restricted due to escalating violence from armed gangs, as confirmed by CPS on Thursday. The port operator announced that it would close its barriers to all land-based traffic from September 26 to September 29 to allow the national police and army to secure the area.
Recent reports indicate that ships have been targeted by gunfire, preventing them from docking and unloading containers. Additionally, two Filipino crew members were kidnapped from a cargo vessel in the port, heightening concerns over safety and security.
Haitian leaders, addressing the United Nations General Assembly, have warned of deteriorating security in the country, despite the partial deployment of a U.N.-backed security force. The initial mandate of this force is set to expire soon. Armed gangs, bolstered by weapons smuggled from the United States, have united and taken control of much of Port-au-Prince, with their influence spreading to surrounding regions.
The ongoing violence has led to a humanitarian crisis, with over 700,000 people internally displaced—almost double the figure from six months ago. Many are living in makeshift camps and struggling with rising food prices, which have surged by 42% in July compared to the previous year, according to the World Food Programme.
Edgard Leblanc Fils, president of Haiti’s transition council, emphasized the gravity of the situation, describing it as not just a humanitarian emergency but a threat to national stability. He called on the U.N. Security Council to consider formalizing the Kenyan-led security force into a peacekeeping mission to secure adequate funding, troops, and equipment.
Earlier this year, Haiti’s main seaports and international airport were closed for nearly three months due to violence, which peaked at the end of February, leading to prison breaks and a governmental crisis.
