Footage posted by the Haitian police shows strikes by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that appear to be targeting members of criminal gangs. The footage was later deleted. DRM presents a geolocation of one of the strikes, which took place in the country’s capital, Port-au-Prince. Haitian police forces lack sufficient resources, prompting the government to seek assistance from private military contractors with advanced weapons and technology.

Erik Prince, founder of Blackwater Worldwide and vocal supporter of US President Donald Trump, is cooperating with the Haitian government in the fight against gangs threatening the capital Port-au-Prince. He has signed a contract to lead operations against these criminal groups, which are responsible for the rampant violence and significant territorial control in Haiti.

Since March, his team has been using UAVs to attack gang members, although there have been no confirmed cases of high-profile targets being captured or killed. Haiti is facing a huge humanitarian crisis, with 1 million people displaced and over 5,600 murders reported last year. Two-thirds of major public hospitals are closed, and gangs control vital supply routes, exacerbating food insecurity that threatens 11 million people. Many residents have fled to Cap-Haïtien, the second-largest city, while gang influence is spreading to rural areas.

The Haitian government is calling for full support from the UN, including blue helmets (editor’s note: peacekeepers) to fight the gangs, but previous similar proposals have been vetoed by China and Russia.

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