Armed gangs unleashed a deadly assault on Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, early Tuesday, killing 30 civilians in the Delmas neighborhood and forcing panicked residents to flee. The attack underscores Haiti’s deepening security crisis as gangs tighten control over 80% of the capital, displacing over 1 million Haitians —almost 10% of the population.
Local resident Alex Josue reported around 15 deaths, including a vendor burned alive in front of his child and a mother and child abducted and set on fire. Residents fled with mattresses and belongings, while one man transported a corpse in a wheelbarrow amid the chaos.
Haiti Gangs’ “Modus Operandi”: How They Murder, Rape and Commit Arson
Rosy Auguste Ducena of Haitian rights group (RNDDH) confirmed gangs targeted multiple areas simultaneously, using tactics like indiscriminate shootings, arson, and sexual violence. Victims often seek refuge in unsafe locations due to limited options.
Well-funded, allied gangs now dominate Haiti’s capital and surrounding regions, displacing residents through forced evictions and terror campaigns. Many flee to overcrowded shelters or makeshift camps with scarce resources.
Haiti’s Humanitarian Fallout and Lack of Police Response
Haiti’s under-resourced police force had at the time of filing this report, yet to respond to Reuters’ requests for comment. This is as the UN has warned that Haiti’s crisis could worsen without urgent intervention. Human rights groups are also calling for global support to dismantle gangs and restore security.
Mass displacement strains Haiti’s crumbling infrastructure, exacerbating hunger, cholera outbreaks, and unemployment.
Meanwhile, analysts with in-depth knowledge don the happenings in Haiti have linked gang expansion to illegal arms trafficking from the U.S. and extortion of businesses, enabling their (the gang’s) unchecked reign.
