The escalating violence in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, has led to a dramatic increase in sexual assault, particularly against women and girls. Helene, 19, recounts her abduction and repeated rape over two months by armed gang members, resulting in her pregnancy. She now lives in a safe house with at least 30 other survivors, the youngest being 12 years old. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reports a near tripling of sexual assault patients since 2021, with survivors describing multiple attackers and increasingly brutal methods. These attacks are often part of larger-scale assaults, used by gangs to terrorize communities.

Multiple women describe attacks that involve murder, rape, and arson, often committed in front of family members. The crisis has displaced over 1.3 million people, with half the population facing acute hunger. The lack of effective governance since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse has exacerbated the situation. Gangs control approximately 90% of the capital, hindering the efforts of a UN-backed security force. While the Haitian authorities have employed mercenaries, including those from the US, using drones, fear and violence persist, with vigilante groups adding to the armed presence on the streets. Humanitarian organizations, facing funding cuts, express serious concerns about the escalating violence and the long-term impact on vulnerable women and children.

Impact Statement: The ongoing gang violence and widespread sexual assault in Haiti represent a major humanitarian crisis, demanding urgent international attention and intervention to address both the immediate needs of survivors and the root causes of the conflict.