Port-au-Prince: Christmas Shadowed by Insecurity and Economic Hardship

PORT-AU-PRINCE, December 25, 2025— As the year-end holidays approach, the Haitian capital presents an unusually bleak picture. The festive atmosphere that once characterized Christmas seems to have dissolved into a reality marked by chronic insecurity, the collapse of purchasing power, and widespread precarity. In a city under tension, priorities have shifted: survival now takes precedence over celebration. A Capital Without Decorations or Fervor In the streets of Port-au-Prince, Christmas decorations are rare, if not nonexistent. The once bustling markets, illuminated streets, and family gatherings have given way to an atmosphere of caution and withdrawal. The proliferation of armed violence, the forced displacement of thousands of families, and the soaring prices of basic necessities have profoundly altered daily life. For many residents, the holiday season no longer evokes joy or sharing, but rather serves as a reminder of daily difficulties and the uncertainty of tomorrow. Insecurity Stifles Any Desire for Celebration In Kenscoff, Westerdjy Antoine, a young teacher who became a motorcycle taxi driver to make ends meet, does not hide his bitterness. According to him, the Christmas spirit has evaporated over successive crises. “Today, it is insecurity that is destroying the country. If there is a celebration, it is not for the most deprived,” he confides. The same observation is made in Christ-Roi, where Maudeleine Fortin, a mother of two, describes her neighborhood as a field of ruins, with people deserting the streets as soon as night falls. “From 6 PM, everyone goes home. Before, there was life, activities for young people. Today, there is nothing,” she laments, arguing that life in Port-au-Prince is gradually losing its meaning. Internally Displaced Persons, the Great Forgotten of the Holidays The situation is even more dramatic for people displaced by gang violence. Jina, originally from Croix-des-Bouquets, fled her home at the end of 2023 with her children. Precariously housed with relatives, she struggles daily to provide the bare necessities for her family. “Under these conditions, I cannot say I am in the Christmas spirit,” she testifies, her voice marked by fatigue. These displaced families, deprived of stability and resources, embody one of the most painful facets of the current crisis. The Nostalgia of Christmas Holidays For many Haitians, Christmas has lost its meaning. Dorlyne, 46, lives in Clercine. She remembers, with nostalgia, a time when Christmas trees, year-end shopping, and children's wonder punctuated the month of December. “Today, all of that has disappeared,” she observes, resigned. The bustling markets and family traditions have been replaced by anxiety, fueled by an uncertain economic and security context. Despite this bleak picture, some refuse to completely abandon the Christmas spirit. Joceler, a resident of the Cul-de-Sac plain, tries to preserve the values of solidarity and sharing, even with limited means. “We must continue to hold onto hope,” he asserts, convinced that these values remain essential, especially in times of crisis. In some neighborhoods, others indulged in debauched pleasures. Under the control of gang leaders, DJ performances lasted all night, mixing noise pollution, automatic gunfire, raborday, and abundant perversion. All things considered, Christmas is no longer a time of collective rejoicing, but a brutal reflection of the social, economic, and security fractures running through the country. It is the mirror of a multifaceted and profound moral crisis. For a large part of the population, the year-end holidays are no longer synonymous with celebration, but rather a reminder of the urgent need for a return to security, stability, and human dignity. Jean Mapou/ Le Relief