

Why Haiti Asked for an Intervention
4 snips Dec 8, 2022
Natalie Kitroeff, the New York Times Bureau chief for Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, shares her on-the-ground insights from Haiti. She discusses the escalating gang violence that has led to widespread displacement and a humanitarian crisis. Kitroeff delves into the power dynamics following the assassination of Haiti's former president and the government's urgent call for international armed intervention amid a cholera outbreak. Her vivid accounts highlight the desperation of Haitians caught in this chaos, as well as the complex interplay between local needs and foreign responses.
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Refugee Camp
- Thousands of displaced Haitians live in Hugo Chavez Plaza, a public park near the airport.
- They sleep on concrete, surrounded by children, trash, and human waste.
Overlapping Crises
- The plaza symbolizes Haiti's overlapping crises: gang violence, hunger, and disease.
- A powerless government seems unable to address these issues.
Power Vacuum
- The assassination of Haiti's president created a power vacuum.
- Gangs exploited this weakness, taking over more territory and escalating violence.