Key Takeaways:

• Leslie Voltaire, Haiti's transitional council president, warns of "catastrophic" impacts due to Trump administration policies.
• Voltaire met Pope Francis to seek assistance amid worsening humanitarian conditions in Haiti.
• Growing gang violence and internal displacement have exacerbated the crisis, affecting over 11 million Haitians.

ROME — The president of Haiti’s transitional presidential council, Leslie Voltaire, has expressed grave concerns regarding the Trump administration's recent decisions to freeze aid programs, deport migrants, and block refugees, describing these actions as “catastrophic” for Haiti. In a recent interview with the Associated Press, Voltaire shared his remarks following a meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican, where he sought assistance for his nation.

Voltaire pointed out that currently, nearly half of Haiti's population of 11.4 million is already suffering from hunger, and losing humanitarian assistance would exacerbate the dire situation further. “I’m knocking on the doors of people who love Haiti. The Pope loves Haiti, and he is eager to help,” he remarked, highlighting the desperate need for international support.

The interim president criticized Trump's earlier derogatory comments about Haiti, stating, “Trump said that Haiti is a ‘shithole,’ so I don’t think he will care about Haiti.” He is particularly concerned about the implications of new U.S. immigration policies, as thousands of people are already being repatriated from the Dominican Republic weekly, amidst rampant gang violence that instills fear among civilians.

With an estimated 1.5 million Haitians residing in the United States, the potential deportation of those under the Temporary Protection Status is alarming to Voltaire, who asserted that Haiti cannot handle an influx of returnees while already struggling with internal displacement exacerbated by violence. According to a recent VOA News report, internal displacement has tripled within the last year, surpassing one million people due to escalating gang violence.

Last year, over 5,600 individuals were reported killed in Haiti, marking a significant rise in violence. Voltaire noted that gangs currently control about 85% of Port-au-Prince, complicating the government’s struggle to conduct elections that he believes can be organized by November. “If Haiti’s multinational police force is reinforced with several thousand additional officers, elections can proceed,” he stated.

As part of the broader strategy to stabilize Haiti, Voltaire requested the Pope to organize an international conference of solidarity, which could bring attention and support from countries like Mexico and Canada. The Vatican expressed a willingness to engage in supporting Haiti amidst this profound crisis.

In light of the worsening conditions, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that without additional international backing, the gangs may soon overrun the already beleaguered capital of Port-au-Prince, threatening the collapse of government authority.

For further details, refer to the original articles from LA Times and VOA News.