Armed Gangs Attack Haiti’s Main Port, Blocking City’s Access To Vital Supplies

Armed gangs have attacked Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, completely cutting off the city’s access to essential supplies.

On September 25, 2024, over a dozen gang members attacked the main port terminal, APN, looting containers, damaging security infrastructure and forcing operations in the port to stop.

Philippe Coles, president of Caribbean Port Services and the terminal’s operator, described the situation as total paralysis. He said that the gangs now control the port, leaving the port, which is already 80% under gang control, to a breaking point.

The port shutdown poses a serious risk to a city already affected by violence, with locals reporting an increase in kidnappings and killings.

Families have been forced to leave their houses after thousands of prisoners broke free from the two biggest prisons over the weekend, and the dead bodies lying on the streets started to smell bad.

Gangs have also surrounded the international airport, disrupting flight operations and setting fire to police stations.

Roadblocks across the country have made reaching the capital impossible, and the border with the Dominican Republic has been closed.

A manager in the shipping sector said that everything has stopped; medical supplies and food cannot reach Port-au-Prince, and nothing can enter by air, road, or sea right now. He warned that if the situation continues, hunger will strike the people living there.

The port handles about 5,000 containers daily, accounting for 80-90% of the capital’s container traffic. While ports outside of Port-au-Prince remain operational, deliveries to the capital have become difficult due to gang blockades.

In a country that imports most of its food, the port’s containers are crucial for essentials like rice, pasta and medical supplies. Humanitarian groups have raised concerns over the worsening situation.

Mercy Corps stated that if access to food containers is restricted, Haiti will soon go hungry. Jean-Marc Biquet, head of Doctors Without Borders in Haiti, reiterated the concerns, warning of possible shortages in medication and blood supply for hospitals.

The chaos at the port intensified when criminals destroyed the terminal’s power supply, risking perishable goods.

An armed attack killed a security guard, and employees barricaded themselves with containers in an attempt to save themselves. However, the strategy failed on September 25, when gang members overpowered the security forces.

Coles stated that the soldiers arrived at the dock but did not have enough equipment to face the gangs. He added that the police were spread thin and had difficulty prioritizing the airport over the port.

The situation worsened as the gangs attacked the terminal in several locations, leaving the port vulnerable to multiple attacks.

Coles said that while it might be possible to begin operations in the next 24 to 48 hours, it is still unclear if authorities can protect the area.

The impact of this disruption extends beyond Port-au-Prince. With internal displacement estimates nearly doubling to over 700,000, many people are living in temporary houses with basic resources as food prices rise.

The World Food Programme reported a 42% increase in food costs over the last year.

During a speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Haiti’s transition council president, Edgard Leblanc Fils, said that the crisis seriously threatens national stability. He urged for immediate action to reopen ports and resume flight operations.

With supermarkets running low on supplies and residents too afraid to step outside, Haitians face an uncertain future. “Haiti can’t take it anymore,” stated Pierre Espérance, director of Haiti’s National Human Rights Defense Network. “Something urgent needs to happen.”

Reference: Washington Post, Reuters

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