Pictures of the Year International

Gang members, mostly young men, patrol the streets of Gressier, in coastal Port-au-Prince, a former tourist hub now abandoned after clashes with government forces, Haiti, July 7, 2024. Once home to thriving resorts, the area is now a stronghold for armed groups. Many of these youths have left their families behind and now occupy empty houses, surviving amidst the violence and chaos that have overtaken the region. Haiti, the first independent black republic, has a history marked by conquests and tragedies. After gaining independence in 1804, it experienced decades of political instability, economic crises, and natural disasters. Shaped in the 20th century by three decades of Duvalier dictatorship, the island has faced enormous challenges, spiraling in recent years into violence, amplified by the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021 and the lack of a stable government. Today, most of Port-au-Prince and other urban areas are controlled by armed gangs: the G9 of Jimmy Chérizier, known as “Barbecue,” and the Gpèp of Jean-Pierre Gabriel. Months ago, these gangs formed an alliance declaring a popular revolution against former Prime Minister Ariel Henry. In March, they forced the prime minister’s resignation after attacking the airport and coming close to the National Palace. The uprising caused hundreds of casualties, forcing families to choose between fleeing coastal neighborhoods or barricading themselves at home. These groups, better organized than the Haitian security forces, dominate the territory by managing illicit activities such as drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and kidnappings, which are crucial sources of funding. The violence has forced more than 578,000 people to leave their homes, seeking refuge in makeshift camps where food, clean water, and essential medical care are scarce. Between January and March, 2,500 cases of murder, kidnapping, stabbings, and gunshot wounds were recorded. According to Doctors Without Borders, present in four hospitals and with nine mobile clinics, they have treated 1,530 patients with one or more bullets in their bodies since the beginning of the year. The population lives trapped in a constant climate of fear: over 60% of schools are closed, hospitals are often inaccessible, and anyone attempting to move risks becoming a victim of shootings or kidnappings. The judicial system is nearly nonexistent, with an impunity rate near 99%, allowing criminals to maintain control of the streets. Meanwhile, waste management has completely collapsed: mountains of garbage invade the streets, increasing the risk of epidemics and exacerbating an already desperate health crisis.