Despite heavy rain, a group of determined protesters took to the streets of Port-au-Prince on Wednesday, calling for increased security and protection from violent gangs that control much of the capital. The protesters blocked roads with burning tires and displayed signs, though the main event was canceled due to bad weather.
Police officers were stationed near the roadblocks, some armed with automatic weapons, but did not intervene in the protests. This demonstration follows a similar protest two weeks ago, when thousands gathered and were met with tear gas and smoke grenades as they attempted to march toward the office of Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé.
Haiti is facing escalating unrest, with gangs now controlling 85% of Port-au-Prince and raiding once-peaceful neighborhoods. In response, the Haitian government announced a “war budget” of $275,000 to address the growing crisis. Nearly 40% of the budget will be allocated to the police and military to combat gang violence, while another 20% will go to securing the border with the Dominican Republic. The rest will support social programs aimed at education, health, and humanitarian aid.
The government’s special budget aims to bolster efforts to tackle the gang violence that has displaced more than 60,000 people in just one month. According to the U.N.’s International Organization for Migration, more than 1,500 people have been killed, and 572 others injured between January 1 and March 27 this year. Gang violence has left over 1 million Haitians homeless in recent years.