Chaos in Port-au-Prince: Residents Flee Amid Escalating Gang Violence

Residents of Solino and Nazon in Port-au-Prince are fleeing as gang violence escalates, highlighting the political turmoil and ineffectiveness of security interventions. The crisis has displaced over 700,000 people amid severe violence and hunger. Efforts to stabilize the region remain stalled due to ongoing political conflicts.

In yet another blow to Haiti's struggling security environment, residents of Solino and Nazon found themselves fleeing from their homes on Thursday. A coalition of gangs, known as Viv Ansanm, has been tightening its grip on areas of Port-au-Prince, marking a new phase in the nation's crisis.

Onlookers, including Reuters, noted mass exoduses as streets filled with residents carrying their belongings and hastening to escape. The exodus was exacerbated by the killing of a local police officer, underscoring the escalating security concerns in the region.

The International Organization for Migration reports that over 700,000 residents have been displaced amidst this ongoing conflict, which is also marred by rampant violence, kidnappings, and severe hunger. Meanwhile, efforts to restore stability are hampered by political infighting that led to the removal of Prime Minister Garry Conille by the transitional presidential council.

(With inputs from agencies.)