Violent, feuding gangs have taken over the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince since final summer season. A United Nations report in October mentioned gangs are sexually assaulting ladies and youngsters, along with curbing entry to well being care, electrical energy and clear water.

The gangs have reportedly killed and kidnapped lots of, whereas filling an influence vacuum in a rustic led by politicians whose phrases have expired. No elections have been held since earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic.

A navy spokesman, Capt. Graeme Scott, mentioned Tuesday that the long-range surveillance aircraft was initially assigned to a U.S.-led counter-narcotics mission within the Caribbean earlier than being tasked with conducting two flights over Haiti over two days.

“The CP-140 has been capturing info that can be utilized by the federal government of Canada to additional assess the scenario in Haiti,” Scott mentioned in an emailed assertion.

“Because the plane has now accomplished that info gathering, as a part of Canada’s response to the scenario in Haiti, it’s now on its means again to Canada.”

It wasn’t instantly clear how the data can be used, although Haiti’s unelected prime minister, Ariel Henry, has requested a international navy intervention, which Washington says Canada ought to guide.

The thought has confirmed divisive amongst Haitians. Canada has as an alternative sought a political consensus in Haiti, which incorporates sanctioning greater than a dozen political and financial elites, accusing them of emboldening the gangs.