- New gang attacks in Port-au-Prince displace families, trap clergy
- Haitian police seize weapons but face 85% gang control in capital
- UN warns of imminent collapse as violence displaces 1 million
Port-au-Prince descended into chaos this week as armed gangs launched coordinated assaults across Haiti's capital. Authorities evacuated students near the historic Oloffson Hotel while social media pleas revealed priests trapped in a church under fire. Deputy police spokesperson Lionel Lazarre confirmed officers are implementing new strategies to combat groups controlling vast swaths of the city, though operational details remain classified for safety.
The violence coincides with a UN report revealing over 5,600 fatalities in 2023 alone, with criminal networks now dictating movement in most Port-au-Prince districts. Law enforcement recently intercepted a major arms shipment northeast of the capital – including 10,000 ammunition rounds – highlighting the flow of illegal weapons empowering gangs. Two suspects linked to the cache were killed by vigilantes, underscoring collapsing public trust in institutions.
UN human rights envoy William O'Neill issued dire warnings during his Haiti visit, stating the capital risks complete gang domination despite the Kenyan-led security mission. Regional analysts note parallels to El Salvador's gang crisis before its 2022 state of exception, though Haiti lacks equivalent law enforcement capacity. Unlike Central American crackdowns, Port-au-Prince residents increasingly rely on community patrols as police resources dwindle.
Economic repercussions are devastating Haiti's informal sector, with street markets abandoned and transport routes severed. Humanitarian groups report malnutrition rates doubling in gang-controlled areas as aid convoys face systematic looting. The World Bank estimates $2 billion in annual economic losses from violence – equivalent to 20% of Haiti's pre-crisis GDP.
International response remains fractured, with the US noting insufficient funding for the UN-backed security mission. Experts urge addressing root causes like arms trafficking from Florida and Dominican Republic border towns. Meanwhile, displaced families crowd into schools and churches, their numbers swelling the 1 million Haitians already homeless from earlier conflicts.
