According to information from the main trade union of the Haiti national police, the force has lost almost 3,300 officers over the span of three years. These losses have come as security officials grapple with powerful gangs that are believed to control the majority of the capital.
Of the nearly 3,300 officers who were lost, almost 90% were dismissed from their positions for abandoning their posts, while an additional 123 officers resigned. Additionally, it is estimated that around 80 police officers were killed, died in accidents, or went missing in action last year.
The report emphasized the urgent need for the police to receive higher incentives to justify the dangers they face. It also highlighted the deficiencies in equipment, training, and infrastructure within the force. Specifically, there is a need for armored vehicles, helicopters, guns, and drones.
Lionel Lazarre, the general coordinator of the SYNAPOHA trade union, urged the government to take responsibility, stating that it is not just about acquiring equipment, but also about providing the financial resources for the police to plan operations in areas controlled by criminals.
Lazarre acknowledged the difficult situation but also noted that the police had made progress, regaining control of six neighborhoods and making strides in reclaiming another.
In addition to the security challenges, alliances of violent gangs have expanded their control beyond the capital, leading to the displacement of approximately 200,000 people. This has resulted in indiscriminate killings, sexual violence, and threats to food supplies in already vulnerable areas.
Last year, the United Nations reported around 3,960 killings and 2,951 kidnappings in Haiti. In response to the escalating crisis, the government called for international reinforcements in October 2022, and the United Nations approved the deployment of a force made up of voluntary contributions late last year.
Kenya, the only country willing to lead the force, has sent officials to meet with Haitian security forces ahead of a court hearing to determine the legality of its deployment to the Caribbean state.
Despite the deteriorating humanitarian situation, some countries are hesitant to support Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s unelected government, fearing a repeat of past interventions and abuses. It is worth noting that Haiti’s armed forces were disbanded in 1995 and reinstated in 2017, but the national police remains the primary security force.
(Reporting by Harold Isaac in Port-au-Prince and Sarah Morland in Mexico City; Editing by Stephen Coates)
