Bishops of Haiti decry ongoing insecurity and gang violence

Following the latest gang clashes in Port-au-Prince in which the Cathedral of the Assumption was set ablaze last week, the Bishops of Haiti again lament the deterioration of the security situation in the country, calling for the restoration of the authority of the State and the disarmament of gangs.

The Bishops of Haiti have voiced their heartfelt concern for the suffering of the Haitian people caused by the “general deterioration” of the situation in the ountry.

In a message released on July 29 the Haitian Bishops Conference (CEH) once again raised the alarm on the ever-increasing gang violence in the country marred by "corruption, widespread insecurity, kidnappings, extreme poverty and interpersonal distrust”.

471 killed or missing in the last decade of July

Violence has been mounting over the past weeks, especially in the capital Port-au-Prince, where the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption was severely damaged on July 27 by an arson attack during gang clashes. According to the United Nations, 471 people have died or are missing due to the violence in the last decade of July.

Gang-related killings, kidnappings and turf wars still increasing

Haiti, one of the poorest nations in the world, has been contending with a downfalling economy, political instability and a rising insecurity for years, and the situation has further deteriorated after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise, on July 2021, and the devastating earthquake that followed in August. Since then gang-related killings, turf wars, extortions and kidnappings, have increased even more also targeting the Catholic Church, an institution that has long been a pillar of Haitian society with several religious kidnapped for ransom.