Plagued by gangs, the chaotic situation in Haiti almost straight out of a scene from “Mad Max”

France chartered military helicopters on Sunday to allow its “most vulnerable” nationals to leave Haiti, whose capital is plagued by gang violence. Some 1,100 French people, including a large number of dual nationals, live in Haiti, according to figures from the Quai d’Orsay.

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), more than 33,000 people have fled the metropolitan area of ​​Port-au-Prince in two weeks to seek shelter from the escalation of attacks. Haiti, which was already experiencing a deep political and security crisis, has been gripped by renewed violence since the beginning of the month, when several gangs joined forces to attack strategic locations in Port-au-Prince, saying they wanted to overthrow the Prime Minister. Minister Ariel Henry, who resigned on March 11. The point in pictures.

Realization : Olivier JUSZCZAK

• The latest violence in Haiti brings to light the power of gangs, who benefit from collusion with those in power, the negligence of institutions and the political chaos since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021.

• Haiti, which is experiencing a very serious political and security crisis, has been plagued by renewed violence since the beginning of March, when several gangs joined forces to attack strategic locations in Port-au-Prince, saying they wanted to overthrow the Prime Minister, Ariel Henry.

• Gangs, united under the label “Living Together”, carry out coordinated attacks in the capital, targeting strategic sites such as the civil prison, the international airport, and police buildings.

• Streets in Port-au-Prince are blocked by barricades of burning tires.

• An influential Haitian gang leader, Jimmy Chérizier, also known as “Barbecue”, has threatened a “civil war” if disputed Prime Minister Ariel Henry remains in power.

• Mr Henry agreed to resign on March 11. Since then, negotiations have been underway to form transitional authorities.

• The UN experts’ report estimates that 200 gangs operate in Haiti. It defines a gang as “an organized group of individuals who use armed violence using sophisticated firearms” and engage in “gun or drug trafficking, extortion, kidnapping, murder, sexual violence and truck hijacking.

• Some 23 “major gangs” operate in the capital, controlling 80% of the territory.

• They are grouped into two main coalitions engaged in turf wars: the “G9 family” led by Jimmy Chérizier, alias “Barbecue”, and the G-Pèp.

• The UN expressed concern on Friday March 8 about the fate of 3,000 pregnant women in the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince subject to a state of emergency due to the increase in gang violence, as well as for the care of survivors of sexual violence.

• The situation remained “explosive” Friday in Port-au-Prince according to the UN, at a time when Haitians are awaiting the appointment of transitional authorities following the resignation of the Prime Minister.

• The situation in Haiti is “horrible” and “almost out of a scene from + Mad Max +”, a film which depicts a post-apocalyptic future, the executive director of Unicef ​​said on Sunday.

• More than 33,000 people have fled the metropolitan area of ​​Port-au-Prince in two weeks to seek shelter from escalating gang attacks.

• “Due to the advance of gangs, 5.5 million people out of a population of 11.4”, or around half, now need humanitarian aid, said the UN coordinator for the country.

• The Haitian capital Port-au-Prince was once again the prey of intense exchanges of gunfire on Saturday as the humanitarian situation worsens and the political transition is awaited.