2026-01-24

SEVERE CIVILIAN CASUALTIES Haitian National Police operations against gang strongholds intensified in January 2026 achieving territorial reclamation in Port-au-Prince core but generating civilian casualties that risk undermining operational legitimacy. PNH units supported by Prime Minister task force killed six gang members in Bercy between Arcahaie and Cabaret on January 20 to 21 seizing weapons and ammunition. Operations targeting Jimmy Cherizier stronghold in Delmas 6 began January 14 while sustained assaults in Bel-Air La Saline and Delmas 2 4 6 employed demolition equipment and explosive kamikaze drones. The PNH announced January 10 that 892 newly graduated officers from the 35th training class would deploy to violence-affected areas providing critical personnel reinforcement. These operations reclaimed portions of downtown Port-au-Prince including Magloire Ambroise Street the Champ de Mars government district Delmas 19 and Nazon shifting them from red zone gang-controlled to orange zone contested status. However the humanitarian cost is severe with security force operations killing 50 civilians since January 1 and displacing 5800 people from Port-au-Prince neighborhoods. Between July and September 2025 security forces were responsible for 61 percent of all casualties with 22 percent of victims being residents struck by stray bullets at home or during daily activities. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk stated that January 24, 2026 some security officers have continued to summarily execute individuals suspected of gang links. The drone operations conducted by Vectus Global led by Blackwater founder Erik Prince present acute legal and ethical concerns. Between March and September 2025 drone strikes killed 547 people including 527 suspected gang members and 20 civilians among them 11 children. In September 2025 a drone attack on a birthday party killed at least eight children reportedly targeting gang leader Albert Steevenson while he was distributing gifts. Turk warned that most of these drone strikes are likely unlawful under international human rights law. Despite these concerns Vectus Global announced in August 2025 a 10-year contract with Haiti involving nearly 200 to several hundred personnel from the United States Europe and El Salvador. The international Gang Suppression Force authorized by UN Security Council Resolution 2793 in September 2025 remains severely undermanned with only 950 to 1000 personnel deployed mostly Kenyans inherited from the ineffective Multinational Security Support mission. GSF Special Representative Jack Christofides announced January 22 that first new contingents will not arrive until April 2026 with full deployment projected by October 2026. Funding remains critical constraint with the UN trust fund holding only 113 million dollars of the 800 million needed annually and no donations received since August 2025.