Deadly clashes between rival gangs in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, caused by a reconfiguration of gang alliances and territorial disputes, have multiplied in recent weeks, with a significant upsurge since 1 June fuelling a widespread sense of insecurity and creating dramatic consequences for the civilian population. An estimated 10,000 civilians in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince have been displaced since June 1 in addition to nearly 4,000 who were previously displaced. 4.4 million people are food insecure. National police presence in these neighbourhoods is currently not in a position to provide the necessary security and protection to civilians, leaving vulnerable populations to fend for themselves. The police themselves are the target of gangs, who stormed eight police stations and killed eight policemen during the first week of June, taking weapons and police equipment such as bullet-proof vests and radios.

Deadly clashes between rival gangs in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area seeking to exert control over populous areas have surged in recent weeks, with a significant upsurge since 1 June, fuelling a widespread sense of insecurity and creating dramatic consequences for the civilian population. These incidents have resulted in numerous deaths and injuries in these neighbourhoods, as well as several fires. People are fleeing to safer areas and many, including children, are sleeping outside on the ground. Most of the displaced are settling in informal sites and need shelter, food, water, clothing and other non-food items. Based on currently available data, at least 1,000 people have been reportedly displaced over the last 72 hours only due to serious security incidents, particularly in Martissant, Cité-Soleil and Bel Air. This surge in displacement comes in addition to over 4,000 displaced in the last 12 months due to similar incidents.

The Global Justice Clinic, the International Human Rights Clinic at Harvard Law School, and the Lowenstein International Human Rights Clinic at Yale Law School issued a statement on June 8, 2021, calling on the U.S. government to heed civil society’s demand and cancel the planned constitutional referendum in Haiti.  The referendum, which will ask Haitian people to vote “yes” or “no” on a new Constitution, is illegal.  It is the most recent, bold effort by President Jovenel Moïse to consolidate power and comes on the heels of dozens of presidential decrees that undermine checks on the executive. Haitian civil society has widely denounced the referendum, noting its illegality and emphasizing the impossibility of holding a vote under the current administration.  International actors are increasingly recognizing the illegitimacy of the referendum, and the danger to democracy that it poses.  However, continued technical support and provision of aid to the government of Haiti to hold elections means that international actors, including the United States government, are tacitly supporting the unconstitutional vote.  With long experience working in solidarity with Haitian civil society, and building off our February statement, the clinics urge the U.S. government to urgently and publicly call to cancel the referendum.