Haitians protested against gang violence in Port-au-Prince despite heavy rain. The government announced a $275,000 budget to fight gangs, support the military, and address social needs. Gang violence has displaced thousands and caused over 1,500 deaths this year.

Despite bad weather, a determined group of protesters took to the streets of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, on Wednesday, demanding better security against the growing threat of gangs. They set tires on fire, blocked roads, and erected signs to express their frustration. Although the protest was initially expected to attract thousands of people, the main event was canceled due to heavy rain. Some police officers, armed with automatic firearms, were stationed near the roadblocks but did not intervene. This came just two weeks after a similar protest in the same area, where thousands gathered and faced off with police forces who used tear gas and smoke grenades to stop them from reaching the office of Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, appointed prime minister by the council in November.

The anger and discontent are spreading rapidly as gangs continue to exert control over 85% of Port-au-Prince, wreaking havoc in neighborhoods that were once peaceful. In response to the growing crisis, the Haitian government announced on Monday that it had approved what it called a “war budget” of $275,000 to address the escalating gang violence.

The budget allocates nearly 40% of the funds to Haiti’s police and military forces to combat the armed groups destabilizing the country. Approximately 20% of the funds will be used to strengthen the border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, as stated by the Haiti transitional presidential council. Another 16% is earmarked for social programs, including education, health, and humanitarian aid.

The council emphasized that this special budget is a clear reflection of the state’s commitment to addressing the rising insecurity in the country. Recent gang violence has displaced over 60,000 people in just one month, according to the U.N.’s International Organization for Migration. The U.N. mission also reported that between January 1 and March 27, more than 1,500 people have been killed, and 572 others have been injured due to the violence. Over the past few years, gang-related conflicts have left more than 1 million people homeless in Haiti.