13th March 2026

Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Tuesday that drone strikes carried out in Haiti over the past year have killed at least 1,243 people, including 17 children, many of whom had no apparent links to the criminal groups the attacks seek to squash. Haitian law enforcement forces and private contractors working for Vectus Global between March 1, 2025, and Jan. 21, 2026, also injured at least 738 people, of which 49 appear to have no ties to gangs or other criminal groups. HRW's Americas director, Juanita Goebertus, told Reuters that the rights group had documented unlawful use of lethal force. "Haitian authorities should urgently rein in the security forces and private contractors working for them before more children die," she said. Despite Kenyan, U.S. and U.N. support, armed gangs have expanded well beyond the capital  killing thousands. Over a million people have been displace. HRW have been told that many residents are afraid to leave their homes due to drones, which can manoeuvre between buildings and moving vehicles while their ​controllers track suspects using live video feed.  280 political parties have registered to participate in Haiti's first general election in a decade, due to be held in two rounds on 30 August and 6 December 2026. 

Loving God, we bring to your our concerns for our neighbours in Haiti as they continue to suffer violence, injury, fatalities, aggressions, food insecurity, water shortages and insecurity across the country. We pray that your holy spirit would intervene and change the hearts of all those involved in perpetuating this violence. We pray for your protection for children and all at risk from drone attacks. We pray for wisdom, determination and resilience for international partners who are supporting Haiti to bring an end to the violence and unrest.  Loving God, we pray that our Haitian brothers and sister will find hope in you, so that they may overcome this seemingly unsurmountable challenges. He pray that the elections will be free and fair and that the outcome will be respected.  May they be a catalyst for change and bring peace and stability across the country. In Jesus’ name,   Amen.

The prayer is based on a prayer from the Methodist Church in England 

19 cities across the world have reduced their levels of pollutants by more than 20%. The analysis found interventions such as cycle lanes, uptake of electric cars and restrictions on polluting vehicles had helped to drive the improvements. The report, "Breathe Better: How leading cities have rapidly cut air pollution" was published by Breathe Cities on Wednesday. It highlighted examples of action that has helped to clean the air, such as China’s rapid switch from combustion engine cars to electric ones, the expansion of cycle lanes in European cities, London’s ultra-low emission zones (ULEZ), and Warsaw’s shift away from heating homes with coal and wood. Cecilia Vaca Jones, executive director of Breathe Cities, said, “This report shows that cities can achieve what was once thought impossible: cutting toxic air pollution by 20-45% in a little over a decade. This isn’t just happening in one corner of the world; from Warsaw to Bangkok, cities are proving that we have the tools to solve this crisis right now.”  Dr Gary Fuller, an air pollution scientist at Imperial College London, who was not involved in the report, said “Air pollution is often presented as a problem that is too difficult to solve and one that is politically unpopular. This report shows that bold policies can improve the air that we breathe.” 

You can read the full report here.

Amazing, wonderful, Holy, merciful and loving God,

we thank you for your power at work in our lives.

Thank you for your goodness

and for the blessings you shower upon us.

We glorify your name and give you praise,

for your for love for us is so great and strong

that you came to earth and died

so we can live with you forever.

Amen.