Haitians Still Suffer as Kenyan-Led Mission Struggles to
Make Impact after Two Months
Two months have passed since 400 Kenyan police officers
arrived in Haiti under a UN-approved Multinational Security Support (MSS)
mission to restore order. However, for the people of Haiti, daily life remains
unchanged. Gangs still dominate large portions of the capital, Port-au-Prince,
and the neighboring Ouest and Artibonite departments, forcing hundreds of
thousands to flee their homes. Many now endure harsh conditions in displacement
camps.
A recent report by Mercy Corps warns that displacement in
Haiti is likely to increase as conflicts between police, international troops,
and gangs intensify, further hindering humanitarian aid efforts. The MSS
mission, primarily funded by the United States, aspires to eventually deploy up
to 2,500 police and security personnel from various nations. However, the
Kenyan contingent currently on the ground reports insufficient firepower and
equipment to combat the gangs effectively.
To support the mission, the UN established a trust fund to
receive contributions from UN Security Council member states, but donations
have been slow to materialize. As a result, the Kenyan police officers and
their families have experienced delays in receiving the promised payments.
Haitian photographer Clarens Siffroy has documented Haiti's
ongoing crisis, capturing life in gang-controlled areas of downtown
Port-au-Prince and the Rex Théâtre displacement camp. His video and photographs
offer a stark glimpse into the challenges Haitians continue to face.
