A recent surge of gang-related violence in Haiti has resulted in the displacement of hundreds of individuals, who are now scattered along a road leading to the country’s main airport. Monique Verdieux, aged 56, was forced to flee to the highway after witnessing armed men setting fire to homes in her neighborhood. As a result, her family members dispersed in different directions, leaving her uncertain of their whereabouts. Verdieux expressed feeling unsafe to return home and mentioned currently sleeping on the street.
The clashes between rival gangs erupted over the weekend in several northern neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince, the capital city, driving the affected residents towards Toussaint Louverture International Airport. Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, criminal groups have seized control of approximately 70% of Port-au-Prince, expanding their criminal activities such as looting, kidnapping, sexual assaults, and rape into rural areas. The country has remained without a president following the assassination.
Concerns over deteriorating security near the airport have been raised by various entities, including Haitian rum maker Barbancourt and two major bottlers in the country. They highlighted the inadequate response from the government to the crisis and emphasized the challenges faced by Haitian security forces in patrolling the area due to poor road conditions. Notably, these companies play a significant role in Haiti’s economy.
Amid the escalating violence, hospitals in the Cité Soleil neighborhood of Port-au-Prince evacuated patients, while Doctors Without Borders suspended its operations in the area. The medical organization reported providing refuge to hundreds of residents in its hospital, with one security guard being injured by a stray bullet. Additionally, another hospital, Hopital Fontaine, evacuated newborns from its intensive care unit, with Doctors Without Borders assisting patients who had been transferred from Fontaine.
The situation has reached a critical point, with Doctors Without Borders accommodating over 800 individuals seeking safety. However, due to the worsening conditions and ongoing gunfire, the organization decided to halt its hospital operations until further notice. The presence of foreign troops, including those from the UN, has been observed in Haiti since April, with plans for a 5,550-member force to address the escalating violence. Reports indicate that gang violence has displaced more than 1.4 million people in Haiti, with a significant portion living in overcrowded and inadequately supported locations in the capital city.