As the humanitarian situation in Haiti airport gets worse, Kenyan-backed security actions fix important transportation facilities.
- 5,000 people have died in Haiti’s first-ever gang-related crime.
- UN-backed action makes a significant improvement in airport security possible.
The main international airport in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, reopened Wednesday after being closed for a month because of rising gang violence.
After a crucial security test flight, Haitian security troops and Kenyan police leading a UN-backed mission were able to safely protect the Toussaint Louverture airport.
In the middle of November, gangs attacked a Spirit Airlines flight, hurting a flight attendant and forcing major airlines to cancel all of their flights right away.
After that, the Federal Aviation Administration stopped U.S. companies from flying to Haiti for 30 days, making the Caribbean country even more alone.
During the shutdown, the only international airport that was still open was in the town of Cap-Haitien on the northern coast. But getting to this place by land was very dangerous because gangs controlled the main roads and often attacked public transportation.
Rich people were able to get away from the violence in the city by paying thousands of dollars for private air travel, but most people were stuck in situations that were getting more dangerous.
About 5,000 people have been killed this year, which is a record number. Recently, a gang-controlled a neighborhood in Port-au-Prince where more than 100 people died.
The reopening of the airport could mark a significant milestone in Haiti’s ongoing battle against gang crime. There is some hope that basic infrastructure and movement can be fixed now that Kenyan police and the troops are there to keep things safe.
When the Guy Malary airport reopened, domestic travel also started up again, which was a careful return to normal operations.
To solve the problems that lead to bloodshed and keep Haitians safe, however, there are still big problems to solve.
The international community continues to monitor the situation, understanding that Haiti’s social and political situation requires immediate and comprehensive assistance to recover.
