Violence in Haiti's Capital Forces Mass Displacement As Humanitarian Crisis Worsens

A gang attack on Saturday forced residents in Port-au-Prince to flee, as violent armed groups extend control over areas of the Haitian capital not yet under their dominance.

Thick smoke from gunfights rose above the Solino neighborhood, where fleeing residents loaded mattresses, furniture, cooking supplies, and other possessions onto trucks. Others left on foot, carrying what few belongings they could manage.

Gangs have escalated assaults across multiple towns within and around the capital, where many areas are controlled by an alliance of armed groups operating under the name Viv Ansanm.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) reported Friday that thousands of residents have been displaced from Solino in recent days, including some already uprooted from other neighborhoods.

According to the WFP, the total number of displaced people in Haiti has doubled over the past three months, reaching nearly 700,000.

"I can't count the number of times I've left my house ... Every time I arrive in a new area, I run away," said one man, who asked to remain anonymous.

Kettelie Morose, a Solino resident suffering from hypertension and other illnesses, said the violence forced her from her home.

"Bandits kicked me out. I'm responsible for several children, and I don't know what to do," she said.

The deepening security crisis is driving Haiti’s humanitarian disaster. The WFP said about 5.4 million Haitians—roughly half the population—are experiencing acute hunger, with some displaced communities facing conditions resembling famine.

A U.N. helicopter supporting humanitarian operations came under gunfire on Thursday while flying over Port-au-Prince but managed to land safely, the WFP added.

Although the U.N. recently authorized an international force to assist Haitian police in regaining control from gangs, the mission has been under-resourced and has achieved limited progress.