Issue link: https://cp.revolio.com/i/1539800
www.ChildrensHope.com | 23 In 2024, Haiti's security, justice, political, and humanitarian crises continued to get worse. Killings, kidnappings, and sexual violence by criminal groups increased dramatically. The state response was weak to nonexistent, and the justice system was barely functioning. More than 40 percent of Haiti's population experienced acute food insecurity. Access to electricity, safe drinking water, sanitation, health care, and education was severely limited. 2024 Gang violence intensified across Haiti this year. Armed groups expanded their control and kidnappings for ransom became more frequent, touching every level of society. With no democratically elected leaders in office, the country faced growing instability while the Port-au-Prince area continued to suffer some of the highest levels of violence. The scale of atrocities is staggering. Armed groups are responsible for killings, targeted sexual violence, brutal assaults on civilians, the mutilation of human remains, and the destruction of homes and property. These acts have forced widespread displacement, leaving countless families uprooted and vulnerable. International efforts to restore order have so far yielded little success. The Kenyan-led multinational security mission, deployed with the aim of supporting Haitian police and curbing gang dominance, has struggled to gain traction. Gangs continue to maintain control of critical areas, undermining both security operations and the confidence of the population. According to United Nations agencies, more than 300 criminal groups now operate in Haiti, with over 90 percent of the capital, Port-au-Prince, under their control. This reality underscores both the deepening crisis and the urgent need for stability and protection for the Haitian people. In light of this, Haiti has announced plans to attempt democratic elections in February 2026, offering a small but significant hope for renewed governance and stability.