Most of the violence is concentrated in Cite Soleil, a poor area of the capital where humanitarian workers are now seeking to provide life-saving aid.
A burnt car is left on the street in a residential area of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, following armed clashes.
The Caribbean island nation has suffered from years of insecurity and deep-rooted poverty, as well as a collapsing economy and political turmoil following the assassination of its president.
Two women who fled the violence told the United Nations World Food Program (wfp).
Anidet St. Fleur from Quartier Blanchard (Cite Soleil)
“There was firing everywhere. Then they opened fire very close and we ran away with the whole family.”
Annedette St. Fleur fled a neighborhood attacked by gangs.
We did not go back to our home. Gangs are everywhere in the area. We only had time to leave with our ID documents. We haven’t gone back since.
I always keep a bag ready, just in case. When I hear heavy firing, I pick up my bag and run away with everyone.
I had just paid my rent and we had to run. Now we have nothing – no money, no roof – and we don’t know when we will be able to return. Please help us.
Not having a roof to sleep and food for the children is the most difficult thing for us at this time.
Dorlene Boudin, resident of Sarthe, Carrefour Vincent near Cite Soleil
“Some people were carrying knives and setting fire to houses that had people inside. They burned, decapitated, shot, murdered – and if you had a shop, they looted everything.
Dorlin Boudin, sarthe near Cite Soleil, fled from Carrefour Vincent.
The situation was already very difficult for me, I had very little money. I couldn’t buy food because I had to save money to escape in case of emergency. We stayed without eating so we could save money for transportation to escape.
I need to start a small business again to support the children. I need help to feed them and buy water because we have no water.”
WFP has already delivered emergency food assistance to 8,500 newly displaced people from Cité Soleil, while nine WFP-supported schools serving approximately 12,000 students have been forced to suspend food distribution.
WFP’s Janvier Muhima said people are being provided with food supplies, including rice, pulses, oil and fortified flour so they can feed themselves during this period of displacement.
The United Nations World Food Program has provided assistance to affected communities.
Across the country, more than 1.4 million people, more than 12 percent of the population, have been forced to flee their homes, primarily due to criminal violence.
Port-au-Prince has become a hotbed of violence, with 90 percent of the city believed to be under the control of gangs.
Recruitment of children has reportedly increased, with some estimates indicating that some gangs now comprise 30–50 percent children.
