In response to the worsening gang attacks in Haiti, the U.S. military has announced that it has flown in reinforcements to bolster security at the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince. The move comes as nonessential personnel are being allowed to depart from the embassy grounds. According to the U.S. Southern Command, helicopters were utilized to transport these forces to the embassy compound.

It is worth noting that the military was quick to clarify that no Haitians were aboard the military aircraft, hoping to dispel any speculation surrounding the departure of senior government officials. The neighborhood surrounding the embassy, located in the capital city, remains largely under the control of gangs.

The deployment of personnel in and out of the embassy is described as a routine practice to enhance embassy security worldwide. Nonessential staff and their families had been instructed to leave the embassy since July. The personnel being airlifted out may simply be rotating out, with new staff taking their place.

Despite the ongoing efforts to assist the Haitian police and coordinate a United Nations-authorized security deployment, progress has been elusive thus far. Prime Minister Ariel Henry had recently traveled to Kenya to advocate for the U.N.-backed deployment of a police force from the East African nation, but a court ruling in January deemed such a move unconstitutional.

Prime Minister Henry, currently facing calls to resign or establish a transitional council, finds himself unable to return to Haiti. After unsuccessful attempts to land in the Dominican Republic, he arrived in Puerto Rico on Tuesday. The Dominican President's office has made it clear that Henry is not welcome in their country due to safety concerns, while the Dominican Republic has also closed its land border with Haiti.

The Dominican government's statement describes the security situation in Haiti as "totally unsustainable" and poses a direct threat to the stability and safety of the Dominican Republic. Urgent implementation of a peacekeeping force is deemed necessary to restore order and prevent further deterioration.

Caribbean leaders have scheduled an emergency meeting for Monday in Jamaica to address the dire situation in Haiti. The United States, Canada, France, the United Nations, and Brazil have been invited to attend. Efforts to establish an umbrella transitional unity government have been ongoing within the Caricom regional trade bloc, but progress has been slow.

Pressure has mounted for Prime Minister Henry to announce a power-sharing consensus government, yet he has not done so despite demands for his resignation from opposition parties and civil society groups. Henry assumed the role of prime minister following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021.

Meanwhile, in Port-au-Prince, police and palace guards have been reclaiming streets after major gang attacks targeted multiple police stations. Despite their efforts, sporadic gunfire continues, leaving civilians vulnerable. The unrelenting gang violence has brought the country to a standstill, leading to severe shortages of essential supplies.

As the crisis in Haiti deepens, the immediate and long-term security and stability of the nation remain uncertain. The hopes for consensus among political actors to form a unity government are yet to be realized. Urgent action is required to restore order and alleviate the suffering of the Haitian people affected by the ongoing violence.