In Haiti, thousands of protesters came to the streets of the nation's capital city, Port-au-Prince, on Monday, August 7, as they sought protection from the vicious gangs that have been ransacking communities there and elsewhere.
This happened amid people waiting for the United Nations Security Council to make a decision on the possible deployment of an international military force.
During the two-hour march from the troublesome neighborhood of Carrefour-Feuilles to the downtown area's Champ de Mars and on to the official house of the prime minister, crowds screamed, "We want security!" The police reportedly broke up the gathering with tear gas.
As gangs continue to overrun Haiti's understaffed and under-resourced police agency, protestors have promised to keep the movement alive despite the deaths of over 200 people since then.
A Call for Protection
According to analysts, gangs have taken over as much as 80% of Port-au-Prince after the death of President Jovenel Mose in 2021. They are killing, raping, and spreading fear in neighborhoods already wracked by extreme poverty.
More than 1,600 individuals were reported dead, wounded, or abducted from January to March, an increase of roughly 30% compared to the last three months of 2022.
In a report by AP News, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) stated Monday that there had been an "alarming spike" in kidnappings, with almost 300 verified incidents so far this year. This nearly corresponds to the amount recorded for all of last year and almost three times the figure for 2021.
The organization has seen a rise in kidnappings of women and children for economic or military gain. Alix Dorsainvil, a nurse from New Hampshire, and her young daughter were among those abducted at the end of July.
Dorsainvil is employed by El Roi Haiti, a Christian nonprofit that provides aid in the form of healthcare, education, and other programs. They still have her and her daughter hostage and have set the ransom at $1 million.
Younger children's parents worry the most about kidnapping on the way to and from school.
Closed US Embassy in Haiti
Meanwhile, the US Embassy announced on Tuesday, August 8, that it would be shutting down due to gunshots in the area, CBS News reported. It closed a day after thousands of Haitians marched through the city.
The Embassy issued a statement on its website and social media platforms: "The Embassy is closed today. All personnel are restricted to Embassy compounds until further notice due to gunfire in the vicinity of the Embassy. Travel between the compounds is prohibited." It added that some paths to the guarded complex may also be impacted due to continued rapid gunfire.
Embassy officials advised American citizens in Port-au-Prince to stay away from diplomatic property and any demonstrations and large gatherings of people.
