Haiti approves "war time budget" as criminal gangs wreak havoc

A woman sits while sheltering from the rain at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is serving as a shelter for people displaced by gang violence, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti April 13, 2025. REUTERS/Jean Feguens Regala

PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - Haiti's transitional presidential council has approved on Monday an exceptional "war time budget" to address what it called a security and social emergency as armed gangs have taken control of nearly all of the capital and surrounding areas.

The 36 billion gourdes ($275.86 million) budget will be used to boost security forces, secure the border and support social programs, the council said in a statement.

($1 = 130.5000 gourdes)

(Reporting by Harold Issac; Writing by Aida Pelaez-Fernandez; Editing by Anthony Esposito)