Hundreds Flee Homes as Gang Violence Escalates in Haiti’s Capital

Hundreds of residents have been displaced from the Cite Soleil district of Port-au-Prince following a fresh wave of gang violence that has intensified insecurity in Haiti’s capital.

Residents staged protests on Tuesday, demanding stronger government protection after armed clashes forced many families to flee their homes. Protesters said several people were killed during recent violence in the area, although authorities have not officially confirmed casualty figures.

The violence also disrupted medical services in the community. Doctors Without Borders said it evacuated its hospital in Cite Soleil after heavy fighting, while another local hospital suspended operations and moved patients, including newborn babies, to safer locations.

Armed gangs have expanded their control across much of Port-au-Prince since the 2021 assassination of former Haitian President Jovenel Moise. Police estimate that gangs now control around 70 percent of the capital, carrying out kidnappings, looting, and other violent crimes.

The unrest comes as a United Nations-backed international security mission continues deploying foreign troops to Haiti to help restore order. According to migration officials, more than 1.4 million people have been displaced nationwide by the ongoing violence, with many sheltering in overcrowded camps.

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