Haiti's Spiraling Violence: Fuel Explosion, Gang Attacks, and UN Intervention
Haiti faces a grim wave of violence and chaos. A fuel tank explosion in Pont-Gaudin, Gonaïves, claimed lives on 25 June. Earlier, on 21 June, Gran Grif gang members attacked Petite-Rivière de l'Artibonite, leaving at least two dead and civilians kidnapped. The 'Talibans' group took control of La Chapelle commune on 22 June, burning the police station and blocking reinforcements.
The Haitian National Police (PNH) responded by launching joint operations in Mirebalais to dismantle gang control. However, residents of Mirebalais triggered a blackout in Port-au-Prince by shutting down Haiti's main power plant on 17 June. The UN Security Council, acknowledging the escalating violence, approved a larger, better-equipped mission to combat gang violence on 30 September 2025.
The crisis has also affected foreign nationals. The family of Kenyan officer Benedict Kabiru, missing since 26 March, is suing the Kenyan government for its silence. Locals have shown resilience, preventing a kidnapping attempt by the Kokorat San Ras gang in La Croix Saint-Joseph on 10 June, but this led to retaliation. President Fritz Alphonse Jean admitted using foreign mercenaries in the fight against gangs. The UN reported a staggering 490% increase in 'grave violations' against children between 2023 and 2024.
The violence has displaced 8,890 people, with 95% seeking shelter with host families. The situation in Kenya remains critical, with gang violence, power outages, and international concerns highlighting the urgent need for a comprehensive solution.
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