Weekly Report April 18 to April 25

Three Soldiers Killed in Kenscoff Ambush as Haiti's Fight Against Gangs Falters

Three members of Haiti’s Armed Forces (FAd’H) were killed in an ambush by gang members in Kenscoff over the weekend, highlighting the increasing challenges facing security forces in their efforts to contain gang violence. The soldiers were responding to an attack early on April 20 when they were intercepted and killed while traveling in an unarmored vehicle. Six others were wounded in the incident. This attack marks the third fatal ambush on security personnel in Kenscoff in 2025 and raises the number of officers killed by gangs in April to at least six. The Haitian government condemned the killings, calling the fallen soldiers “worthy sons of the Nation” and vowing to retake gang-controlled territories.

Kenscoff, once a peaceful agricultural hub and key passage between Port-au-Prince and southern Haiti, has become a hotspot of gang activity since January. Gangs have disrupted daily life, destroyed homes, and displaced thousands. Despite recent drone strikes by the Haitian National Police targeting gang hideouts, the region remains under siege. Authorities have acknowledged internal security lapses, including a recent ambush tied to alleged police misconduct. The United Nations confirmed over 260 deaths and widespread destruction in recent months, describing the violence as brutal and systematic. With the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support mission now on the ground, hopes to remain for reinforced efforts, but the situation in Kenscoff reflects the broader crisis engulfing Haiti’s security forces and civilian population alike.

US to Label Haitian Gangs "Viv Ansanm" and "Gran Grif" as Terrorist Organizations

The United States is preparing to officially designate several Haitian gangs including the powerful coalitions "Viv Ansanm" and "Gran Grif" along with their sponsors and arms suppliers as terrorist organizations. This move would extend US legal authority to prosecute anyone supporting these groups including arms traffickers financiers and complicit officials. According to the Miami Herald gang members could be imprisoned in El Salvador’s CECOT super-prison where Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua and MS-13 members are currently held. US Senator Marco Rubio emphasized that the unchecked violence in Haiti displacing over a million people and pushing another million toward famine now poses a serious threat to regional stability and US national interests. Some of the intelligence guiding this designation is based on field analysis and activity mapping compiled by Halo Solution Firm SA which has documented the operational footprint of the “5 Segond/UVD” gang under the Viv Ansanm umbrella.

This potential terrorist designation signals a notable shift in US policy toward Haiti. Until now the Biden administration had avoided using the terrorism label even after gangs opened fire on US airliners above Port-au-Prince relying instead on visa cancellations and targeted sanctions through the Treasury and the UN. Despite these measures the gangs have only grown stronger, controlling territory across three regional departments and encroaching further on Port-au-Prince. The evolving crisis has triggered coordinated international concern with the US France the UK and CARICOM issuing warnings this week against any attempted overthrow of Haiti’s transitional government by gang coalitions and their allies.

Haiti’s Gang Crisis: A Deeply Entrenched Socio-Political Breakdown

According to an in-depth analysis by Le Nouvelliste Haiti’s security situation has reached an unprecedented and critical low with gangs now controlling an estimated 80% of Port-au-Prince according to recent UN reports. These gangs have evolved beyond sporadic criminality into structured parallel governments imposing illegal taxes controlling market prices and operating illicit tolls on critical infrastructure like ports and highways. This growing dominance is largely fueled by Haitis longstanding institutional collapse as theorized by Robert I Rotberg in his studies on failed states. With less than 30% of the population having access to basic services gangs increasingly present themselves as functional alternatives to the absent state. Economic despair also plays a key role as youth unemployment hovers near 70% and gang activity can yield income three to five times higher than the legal sector echoing findings by Hernando de Soto on the informal economy. This has led to a brain drain into gang networks with even university graduates being absorbed.

Historically and sociologically the rise of gang power reflects deep systemic continuity. As Jean-Claude William (2019) outlines todays gangs are descendants of older political militias with nearly 35% of current leaders linked to past paramilitary structures. Laënnec Hurbon (2020) further highlights how gangs have evolved into economic powerhouses managing public markets waste systems and informal transport generating income estimated at nearly 30% of Haitis official GDP. Psychosocial factors also play a central role as James S Coleman's theory of deviant social capital helps explain why 60% of gang members see these groups as family offering identity and protection. The role of women who now make up 25% of gang members is expanding as shown in the feminist research of Sabine Lamour (2021) with many women holding strategic roles. Robert Fatton’s (2022) concept of the predatory state describes a landscape where gang power is deeply intertwined with corrupt local governance across much of the country. Ultimately as Nobel laureate Amartya Sen advocates only through restoring fundamental economic freedoms and creating legitimate opportunities can Haiti hope to dismantle this entrenched gang system, a task requiring bold political reform long-term investment and reimagined international collaboration.

Police Operations in Léogâne Leave Several Gang Members Dead and Strategic Zones Reclaimed

Several gang members were killed and others injured during clashes in Léogâne between armed criminals and the Haitian National Police (PNH), according to an official statement from the PNH. During these operations, five firearms were seized. Between February 26 and March 16, 2025, law enforcement successfully regained control of multiple key neighborhoods in the commune, including Flon, Laferonnay, Bogne, Seing, Lassale, Sous Rails, Colline, Bellevue, and Echalotte.

Violent Gang Attack in Artibonite Leaves Two Dead and Several Kidnapped

At least two people were killed during a violent attack carried out on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, by armed members of the gang “Gran Grif” in the Moreau-Peye area of Haiti’s Artibonite department. According to a local source, several others were abducted during the same incident.

Hospitals in Haiti Shuttered by Gang Violence

In the past six months, rampant gang-related violence in Haiti has forced multiple hospitals to shut down, crippling an already fragile healthcare system. Both public and private facilities have been impacted. Port-au-Prince in the West Department has been the hardest hit, but unrest has spread to other regions like the Centre Department. Reports indicate that six out of ten hospitals in Port-au-Prince have ceased operations due to attacks and looting by armed gangs. By late 2024, most hospitals in the capital were either under gang control or closed, leaving only a handful still operational. The violence has not spared flagship institutions, resulting in the closure of some of Haiti’s largest and most important hospitals.

Hôpital de l’Université d’État d’Haïti (General Hospital, Port-au-Prince), the country’s largest public hospital, was attacked and forced to close earlier due to gang incursions. An attempt by authorities to reopen the hospital on December 24, 2024, ended in tragedy when gang members stormed the event, killing at least four people and wounding several others. The hospital has remained closed since that attack, located in a downtown area controlled by a major gang coalition.

Bernard Mevs Hospital in Port-au-Prince, a private trauma and critical care center and the only facility in Haiti offering neurosurgery, was firebombed in December 2024. The attack destroyed much of the 87-bed hospital, which had survived past national crises. Its closure has left a critical gap in trauma care, as it was often the first referral point for serious cases across the country.

Hôpital Universitaire de Mirebalais, a 300-bed teaching hospital operated by Zanmi Lasante and Partners In Health, was forced to shut down in April 2025 due to expanding gang violence in the city of Mirebalais. Although the hospital itself was not physically attacked, surrounding insecurity made operations impossible. The closure of this key referral hospital for central and eastern Haiti has left hundreds of thousands without access to advanced medical services.

Several smaller clinics and health centers have also been forced to close in gang-controlled areas. In one incident, a maternity clinic in Port-au-Prince had to shut down after gangs besieged the neighborhood, leaving dozens of expectant mothers without access to safe delivery services. Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) has had to suspend or scale back operations repeatedly, including one emergency clinic forced to close after a violent incident involving the killing of a patient. An MSF ambulance was later ambushed by police and vigilantes, resulting in the execution of two patients and raising questions about the ability of humanitarian actors to continue operating safely.

Port-au-Prince and the West Department have seen the worst disruptions. Gang warfare has effectively collapsed the public hospital network in the capital. With the closure of both the General Hospital and Bernard Mevs, trauma care, emergency surgery, and specialized treatments like neurosurgery are no longer available in the city. Clinics in neighborhoods such as Cité Soleil and Martissant have also closed or become inaccessible, cutting off basic services for tens of thousands of residents. Pregnant women, in particular, face serious risks due to the lack of maternity care.

As violence spreads beyond the capital, the Centre Department is now also affected. The shutdown of Mirebalais Hospital is particularly devastating. Communities throughout the Central Plateau and beyond now lack access to surgery, dialysis, and other critical treatments. Humanitarian groups warn that the entire healthcare capacity of the country is nearing collapse.

By August 2024, 60% of major hospitals in Port-au-Prince were out of service due to attacks, and conditions have deteriorated further since. At least three of Haiti’s largest hospitals, one public and two private or NGO-run, have completely closed in the last six months, along with numerous smaller clinics. The closure of Bernard Mevs alone deprived an estimated 12 million people of a vital trauma and neurosurgical center. Remaining hospitals, often understaffed and lacking adequate security, are overwhelmed. Emergency services are stretched, routine health programs are disrupted, and medical supply shortages have worsened due to looting and road blockades by gangs. The World Health Organization has warned that many facilities have shut down due to threats to both patients and staff.

Healthcare organizations, government officials, and international agencies have issued urgent warnings. Partners In Health and Zanmi Lasante, which manage the Mirebalais hospital, have emphasized the dire consequences of continued closures. They describe HUM as a lifeline providing essential services, warning that its loss could mean the collapse of Haiti’s remaining health infrastructure. Médecins Sans Frontières has highlighted how violence threatens its ability to safely deliver care, with staff facing direct threats including assault and intimidation. Following a high-profile attack, the Haitian Minister of Health was removed from office, underscoring the state’s inability to protect even major health facilities. The Haitian government has repeatedly appealed for international assistance, and a Kenyan-led international security mission has been authorized, though violence continues to escalate.

Civil society and health NGOs are working to raise awareness about the growing human cost. The loss of hospitals translates directly into the loss of life, particularly among patients requiring emergency surgery, intensive care, or chronic treatment. Doctors on the ground report that hospitals have become battlegrounds and that patients are paying the ultimate price. Observers have called for respect of medical neutrality and protection of humanitarian facilities, but the attacks on hospitals have continued into 2025.

Gang-related violence has led to the closure of several major hospitals in Haiti over the past six months, pushing the healthcare system to the brink of collapse. The West Department has seen most of its hospitals shut down, and now the Central Plateau's leading facility has followed. These closures disproportionately impact the most vulnerable, mothers in labor, trauma victims, and patients in critical condition, who now have few or no options for care. Humanitarian organizations continue to offer services where they can, but without improved security and coordinated support, more facilities may be forced to close. The shuttered hospitals now stand as grim symbols of how unchecked violence is undermining the country’s capacity to protect and heal its own people.

Hinche Residents Sound Alarm Over Imminent Gang Threat

In the wake of violent attacks in Mirebalais, the residents of Hinche, the capital of Haiti’s Centre Department, are issuing urgent appeals to the authorities amid fears of an impending assault by the gang “Viv Ansanm.” This gang, known for its strategy of expanding its territorial control across the country, has become a source of deep anxiety for the local population. Influential figures and community members are voicing growing concern over the deteriorating security situation and are calling for an immediate and substantial increase in police presence throughout the Central Plateau to deter potential violence.

This latest warning follows a series of tense developments in the region, particularly in nearby Mirebalais, which has already suffered from violent gang incursions. Civil society leaders and community representatives stress that only a proactive and coordinated intervention by the Haitian National Police can prevent Hinche from falling into the same cycle of violence. As fear grows that inaction could leave the city vulnerable, residents are urging national solidarity and swift action to protect their community. “We must act before it’s too late,” one local resident emphasized, echoing the desperation felt throughout the town.

Assault on Haiti’s Varreux Fuel Terminal (April 24, 2025)

On April 24, 2025, heavily armed individuals launched an assault on the Varreux oil terminal in Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s largest fuel import and storage facility. The attackers seized several fuel trucks and forced operations to shut down, cutting off fuel distribution across the capital and provinces. The terminal’s security staff was overwhelmed, and the attackers quickly took control without resistance. This marked the latest in a series of gang-led incursions targeting critical infrastructure, reflecting the growing boldness and organization of armed groups operating in and around the capital.

The shutdown of Varreux triggered an immediate halt in fuel distribution, leaving gas stations in Port-au-Prince without supply and causing panic across the city. Many stations closed or ran dry, and public transportation was severely disrupted. Provinces that rely on fuel deliveries from the capital soon began experiencing shortages as reserves dwindled. Hospitals, communication networks, and essential services braced for a potential collapse, recalling past incidents where similar shutdowns led to the closure of medical centers, power outages at radio stations, and halted transportation.

In the hours following the assault, fuel deliveries were suspended while authorities assessed the situation. By the following day, the terminal was reopened after negotiations with the gang controlling the area. Fuel trucks resumed operations under armed escort, averting a full-blown crisis. Although reports suggested the gang may have demanded a ransom or specific concessions to allow operations to resume, officials have not confirmed these claims. The Haitian National Police did not conduct a military intervention to retake the facility, likely to avoid further escalation or infrastructure damage. This approach, though effective in restoring deliveries, drew criticism and highlighted the state’s limited control in gang-dominated zones.

The ability of gangs to seize and shut down such a vital facility underscored the vulnerability of Haiti’s critical infrastructure. With Varreux serving as the main distribution hub for fuel, any disruption has sweeping consequences. Fuel is not only essential for transportation but also for powering hospitals, water pumps, communication towers, and businesses. A prolonged closure would have led to nationwide shortages within days, bringing Haiti’s economy and public services to a standstill. The April 24 assault, though resolved within a day, raised the specter of those outcomes and revealed how quickly the country’s systems can be destabilized.

The humanitarian implications of the attack are also significant. With gangs tightening their grip on Port-au-Prince, aid delivery has become increasingly difficult. Blockades have isolated entire neighborhoods, limiting access to food, water, and medical supplies. Attacks like the one on Varreux risk worsening this situation by jeopardizing the logistics needed to support relief efforts. Hospitals, already strained by resource shortages, could face shutdowns due to fuel scarcity, putting thousands of lives at risk.

Beyond the immediate impact, the Varreux incident dealt another blow to the authority of the Haitian state. Each time gangs successfully overrun a strategic facility without consequence, they reinforce the perception of state weakness. The fact that negotiations, rather than law enforcement action, were needed to resolve the situation reinforces the extent to which official forces are overstretched. This emboldens gangs to continue targeting infrastructure and seizing control over essential services.

Calls for international intervention have grown louder in the wake of the Varreux assault. The government has repeatedly asked for support in restoring order, and a multinational security mission has been approved, though deployment remains delayed. The attack further illustrates the urgent need for reinforced security efforts and long-term strategies to protect critical infrastructure. Until then, the Haitian government remains locked in a crisis management mode, relying on ad hoc solutions to prevent systemic collapse.

The April 24 assault on the Varreux fuel terminal not only interrupted fuel distribution but revealed how fragile the country’s essential systems have become. It showcased the deepening crisis of governance, the power of armed groups to shape national outcomes, and the urgent need for both local and international responses to stabilize Haiti’s security and infrastructure landscape.

Over 35 Gang Members Killed in Pacot During Police and Civil Defense Operation

On Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at least 35 suspected gang members from the “Viv Ansanm” criminal coalition were killed and around 40 others injured during a joint operation in Pacot, Port-au-Prince. The intervention, led by the Haitian National Police and supported by local self-defense brigades, marked a significant blow to the gang’s presence in the area, according to Pierre Espérance, Executive Director of the National Human Rights Defense Network (RNDDH).

Espérance reported that four firearms were recovered by the brigadiers during the operation and handed over to state authorities. He specified that around 20 gang members were neutralized on Avenue N, Pacot, and Rue Casséus during direct confrontations, while drone strikes accounted for the deaths of an additional 15. Despite the success, the operation also came with losses; three members of the Canapé-Vert brigade, one police officer and two soldiers, were killed in an ambush by the gang, a scene reportedly filmed by the attackers. The human rights advocate called for greater support and reinforcement of community-based self-defense groups, noting the escalating violence despite the ongoing presence of a Kenya-led multinational security force in Haiti.

Journalist in Pacot as Violence Intensifies Between Police and Gangs

Violence erupted once again in the Pacot neighborhood of Port-au-Prince on April 23, when a deadly confrontation broke out between members of the Viv Ansanm gang network and brigadiers from Canapé-Vert supporting the Haitian National Police. The shootout, which began around 11 a.m., resulted in six confirmed deaths, including two soldiers and Germain Lucien, a journalist for Radio Megastar who was reportedly mistaken for a police officer while covering the scene. His killing underscores the extreme risks faced by Haitian journalists operating in increasingly lawless and violent conditions. The PNH confirmed that the intervention was supported by the CAT Team, a unit of the National Palace, and that several gang members were neutralized, although no official tally has been released. Pacot residents remain gripped by fear amid ongoing attacks, criticizing the government's inability to curb the spread of gang violence or protect civilians and the press.

China Blames U.S. for Haiti’s Arms Crisis as UN Warns of Imminent Collapse

During a high-stakes session of the United Nations Security Council, China openly accused the United States of fueling Haiti’s spiraling gang violence by failing to enforce the international arms embargo. The Chinese delegate claimed that illegal weapons continue to flow unchecked from Florida into Haiti, leaving gangs better armed than the national police. He further criticized what he described as U.S. “economic bullying” and urged Haiti’s leadership to shift from a dependency mindset toward self-prioritized solutions. These sharp accusations were delivered as the Council grappled with alarming updates on Haiti’s worsening security crisis, including the recent seizure of Mirebalais by gangs who freed over 500 prisoners in a coordinated assault, the fifth major prison break in under a year.

UN Special Envoy María Isabel Salvador warned that Haiti is approaching a “point of no return” and could descend into total chaos without immediate and significant international support. She reported over 1,000 deaths and 60,000 displacements in just two months, underscoring the urgency of the crisis. Despite the presence of a Kenya-led multinational mission to support Haitian police, only 40 percent of the 2,500 personnel initially planned have been deployed due to funding and logistical shortfalls. Kenya’s national security adviser, Monica Juma, echoed the call for stronger UN involvement and emphasized the need to stop the flow of weapons and impose sanctions on gang leaders. While global tensions surfaced over responsibility and resources, there was consensus on one point: halting the arms pipeline is essential. Civil society leaders reminded the Council of the human cost, declaring that Haiti is not just in crisis, it is in the midst of an escalating internal conflict.

Marriott Hotel in Haiti to Permanently Close Amid Ongoing Insecurity

According to reports, the Marriott Hotel in Port-au-Prince will permanently close its doors on April 30, 2025, due to the country’s persistent insecurity. The shutdown will leave around one hundred employees without work, a devastating blow to their families and to an already weakened tourism sector. Meanwhile, armed gangs continue to expand their control, enforcing their own rule over increasingly vast areas.

Uncertainty looms over any resolution to the crisis, as both the Haitian government and the international community appear powerless in the face of mounting violence. The population is left to fend for itself, with little hope of immediate relief or lasting stability.

Haitian Police Union Urges Emergency Action to Prevent Gang Takeover in Central Plateau

The Haitian National Police Union (SPNH-17) issued a stark warning regarding the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the Central Plateau region, particularly in the towns of Hinche, Belladères, and Lascahobas. According to information gathered from local residents and members of the diaspora, heavily armed gangs are reportedly planning to invade these areas, instill fear, and endanger civilian lives.

In response, SPNH-17 is making an urgent appeal to the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) and the head of the High Council of the Haitian National Police (CSPN), Didier Fils-Aimé. The union is calling for immediate and coordinated action between the National Police and the Armed Forces of Haiti to regain full control of the region and prevent a potential humanitarian disaster. Citing the successful April 16 operation where law enforcement jointly intervened to address security concerns, the union demands the same level of mobilization now to counter armed groups threatening to overrun the area. SPNH-17 is demanding three immediate measures: joint and robust military-police operations across the Central Plateau, the complete shutdown of funding and weapons supplies to gangs, and concrete steps to prevent further tragedies. The union warns that continued inaction could come at a steep cost to the nation.

Kenscoff Gang Leader Killed Amid Drone Strikes and Overnight Massacre

In a significant development in Haiti’s ongoing security crisis, Pierre Fritz, a gang leader operating in Kenscoff and reportedly the nephew of former deputy Alfredo Antoine, himself allegedly tied to gang activity, was killed. His death comes amid intensified counter-gang operations in the region.

In a separate but likely related incident, a massacre took place in the Platon Café area of Kenscoff, where eight bodies were discovered. Authorities have not yet confirmed the identities of the victims. Earlier, approximately eleven drones conducted targeted strikes in the RAFA area, believed to be a stronghold for armed groups. Following the strikes, several gang members reportedly fled and sought refuge in nearby locations, including the residence of Pascal Villedrouin along the road to Belot, just before Philippe Magloire’s home, and a school in the Bois d’Avril area. Investigations are ongoing as security forces continue operations in the region.

Savien Gang Invades Petite Rivière on Horseback, Exposing Police Vulnerabilities

In a bold and unexpected move, armed men from the Savien gang launched an attack on the town center of Petite Rivière de l'Artibonite on April 23, 2025, arriving on horseback through a little-monitored route in the Laverdures area. This tactic allowed them to bypass police checkpoints and reach the heart of the town, where they reportedly kidnapped several people, stole motorcycles, and fled with hostages and loot before authorities could intervene.

The attack has deepened the fear gripping the local population, already living under the constant threat of gang violence. Witnesses described a state of terror and helplessness, with residents saying they live in daily panic, forced to run and hide at the first sound of gunfire or approaching vehicles. The community is now making urgent pleas to the state for meaningful and sustained intervention, demanding resources and a coherent plan to reclaim control from armed groups.

Haitian Civil Platform Condemns Government Inaction and Calls for Alternative Leadership Amid National Crisis

The Patriotic Platform for the Advancement of Haiti (PAPA) began by honoring the memory of the brigadiers, soldiers, and police officers killed in recent operations in Canapé-Vert and Pacot, while also saluting the resilience of the Haitian people who have endured a year marked by relentless violence, poverty, and despair. Highlighting a grim reality of widespread corruption, institutional collapse, and unchecked insecurity, PAPA presented a damning assessment of the crisis, citing over 10,000 kidnappings, 500 murders, 1.5 million internally displaced persons, and numerous acts of torture. The group accused the nine members of the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) and the administration of Alix Didier Fils Aimé of deepening the crisis by holding onto power without delivering results, allowing gangs to seize control over vast regions including neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince and parts of the West, Center, and Artibonite. PAPA condemned the CPT for its loss of credibility amid corruption scandals and claimed the justice system has been hijacked for political purposes, fueling impunity and public distrust. Calling the situation unbearable, the platform appealed to the international community for urgent, concrete support and denounced the current government's only aim as preserving its grip on power. PAPA concluded by urging continued citizen mobilization and the creation of an alternative political framework grounded in transparency, new leadership, and independent oversight, with the active involvement of the country’s key civic forces.

Haiti Launches Specialized Judicial Units to Fight Impunity, CARDH Warns of Legal and Structural Gaps

Port-au-Prince, April 24, 2025 – Haiti has announced the creation of new judicial units within the Port-au-Prince Court of Appeal, composed of investigative judges, specialized magistrates, and dedicated chambers. Modeled after European systems, these new structures aim to tackle increasingly complex crimes and address the country’s chronic impunity, fueled by rampant gang violence and a struggling judiciary. While the initiative has sparked hope, the Center for Analysis and Research in Human Rights (CARDH) has identified critical structural weaknesses. Haitian law still lacks clear definitions for certain crimes such as mass killings and the recruitment of child soldiers, making prosecution uncertain and legally vulnerable. CARDH warns that without comprehensive legislative reform, these new judicial units could quickly be rendered ineffective due to procedural gaps and an outdated legal framework.

To strengthen these reforms, CARDH has outlined several key recommendations. It advocates for national jurisdiction for these units, allowing them to investigate crimes across Haiti, and calls for specialized training to enhance judges' capacity to handle complex cases. The organization urges the establishment of secure, interference-free mandates for government commissioners, a rigorous vetting process to ensure the integrity of judges, and the integration of digital technologies into judicial investigations, especially for financial crimes. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of housing these units in secure facilities away from high-risk areas. CARDH also insists on the urgent need to lift political immunity protections that prevent legal action against high-ranking officials and lawmakers. While the creation of these judicial units marks a potentially transformative step, CARDH underscores that their success will depend on strong political will, institutional support, and meaningful civil society involvement, without which they risk becoming symbolic gestures rather than functional mechanisms for justice.

Haiti’s Trash Crisis Fuels Public Health Emergency Amid Institutional Inaction

Amid mounting garbage piles in Haiti’s urban centers, the nation faces a growing public health emergency that threatens the lives of thousands, particularly the poor who depend on informal waste collection to survive. Dumps like Maïs Gâtée in Port-au-Prince have become the daily workplace of individuals like Viergélus Noël Juste, a mother of seven, and Cyto Lajoie, a father of ten, who sift through hazardous waste, often without gloves or masks, exposing themselves to toxic smoke, sharp debris, and potentially contaminated materials. The open-air burning of garbage, a widespread practice in the absence of adequate landfills, has been directly linked to respiratory illnesses, infections, and chronic diseases such as asthma and skin disorders. According to medical experts, exposure to such environments not only endangers these workers but also threatens nearby communities, increasing the spread of infectious diseases like cholera and dengue.

Despite the clear health risks and the visible collapse of public sanitation, the Haitian government and international partners have failed to implement meaningful solutions at scale. While a national waste management law was passed in 2017 and bans on certain plastics were enacted in 2012, enforcement remains weak, and infrastructure investments are severely lacking. Only 12 percent of the country’s daily waste is formally collected, leaving the majority to rot in city streets, public squares, and drainage canals. The lack of government oversight and international follow-through has left waste workers vulnerable and entire neighborhoods at risk, with makeshift dump sites operating in full view of a state that remains largely absent from waste regulation and public health intervention.

Though isolated local initiatives, such as Hill Plast’s recycling program and Cosmos Solution’s biogas conversion efforts, offer glimpses of what’s possible, they are no match for the scale of Haiti’s waste crisis. International funding has supported select projects like the new landfill in the Northeast, but these efforts remain pilots rather than comprehensive policy. For families like those of Juste, Lajoie, and Cadet, survival means enduring daily exposure to disease and environmental toxins, while the institutions charged with protecting public health continue to delay. Without urgent, coordinated action from both Haitian authorities and international allies, waste in Haiti will remain not only a symbol of systemic failure but also a dangerous vector for illness and despair.