- 40% of $275K budget allocated to security forces battling gang control
- Gangs now dominate 85% of capital, expanding to rural regions
- 1,500+ killed in 2024 as violence displaces 1 million residents
- UN-backed Kenyan police mission faces critical resource shortages
Haiti's transitional government has declared economic warfare against rampant gang violence through a controversial war budgetstrategy. With over $110,000 earmarked for military operations, authorities aim to reclaim territories lost to armed factions like the Viv Ansanm coalition. Recent attacks in Mirebalais saw 533 prisoners escape after gangs torched police infrastructure, highlighting systemic security failures.
The budget's 20% border security allocation reflects growing tensions with the Dominican Republic, where 175,000 Haitian migrants sought refuge in 2023. Analysts note parallels to El Salvador's 2022 gang crackdown, though Haiti lacks equivalent judicial infrastructure to process detainees. Health systems face collapse as hospitals like Mirebalais University facility evacuate staff amid crossfire.
Human rights groups condemn the firefighter policingapproach, observing that 62% of recent gang takovers occurred in areas where citizens had filed unheeded warnings. Self-defense militias now operate in 23 communes, creating new challenges for national unity. The UN estimates armed groups collect $300 million annually through extortion networks - triple Haiti's national education budget.
Regional implications grow as Jamaica and Bahamas reinforce maritime patrols against weapons smuggling. Satellite data reveals 114% increase in illegal airstrip activity along Haiti's southern coast since 2021, suggesting international arms trafficking operations. Experts warn the crisis could displace 250,000 additional citizens by 2025 without coordinated intervention.
