Haitians Report Civilian Casualties Following Drone Strike in Port-au-Prince Gangland
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Residents of a neighborhood in Port-au-Prince controlled by armed gangs allege a drone strike resulted in civilian casualties, sparking outrage and raising questions about the evolving multinational security support mission in Haiti. Details remain scarce and verification is ongoing, but initial reports indicate the incident occurred earlier this week in the densely populated area of Delmas, a zone heavily influenced by gang activity.
The alleged strike comes as a United Nations-backed resolution, co-sponsored by the united States and Panama, seeks to transform the current Kenyan-led multinational force into a “gang suppression force” authorized to make arrests. This represents a important escalation in the international response to Haiti’s spiraling security crisis, which has dramatically worsened since the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. Gangs now control an estimated 90% of the capital, extending their reach into rural areas with escalating violence including looting, kidnapping, sexual assault, and rape.
The situation in Haiti has deteriorated rapidly in recent years, leaving over 1.3 million people displaced by gang violence. Widespread hunger and deepening poverty exacerbate the humanitarian crisis, fueling further instability. While the promise of international assistance has offered a glimmer of hope, many Haitians express frustration over the lack of tangible improvements in their daily lives.
The multinational force, currently focused on supporting Haitian police, lacks the authority to directly arrest gang members. The new resolution aims to address this gap,but the reported drone strike raises concerns about potential unintended consequences and civilian harm as the mission’s scope expands.Local sources report several injuries and at least one fatality, though self-reliant confirmation is pending.The incident is likely to intensify scrutiny of the international intervention and its impact on the Haitian population.
