Gang Violence Spreads in Haiti Putting Port-Au-Prince on Lockdown

Gang members have launched a brazen attack on Solino, a key community in Haiti's capital, intensifying a siege that has gripped the area for the past four days.

Solino, known for being home to numerous police officers, now faces a looming threat, raising fears of escalating violence spreading across Port-au-Prince, as per Fox News.

Ongoing Violence Grips Haiti's Capital

(Photo : RICHARD PIERRIN/AFP via Getty Images)
People march as tires burn during a protest against insecurity, on August 7, 2023, near the Prime Minister's official house in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Some 300 women and minors were kidnapped in Haiti by criminal gangs in the first half of this year, UNICEF said Monday, warning of a disturbing rise in abductions that leave "deep physical and psychological scars." The surge in abductions threatens "both the people of Haiti and those who have come to help."oto by Richard PIERRIN / AFP) (Photo by RICHARD PIERRIN/AFP via Getty Images)

On Thursday, the staccato rhythm of automatic weapons reverberated through the streets of Solino, accompanied by thick columns of black smoke that billowed above the once serene neighborhood. Frantic residents, besieged by the ongoing assault, reached out to radio stations desperately seeking assistance.

Pierre Esperance, spokesperson for the Human Rights Network RNDDH, reported approximately two dozen deaths in the area since the weekend. Expressing concern, Esperance remarked, "Police are absent. The public physical force is not present, and the population in [other] areas have blocked the streets in solidarity with Solino."

Residents like Lita Saintil, a 52-year-old street vendor, fled Solino, recounting the harrowing experience of witnessing at least six lifeless bodies strewn across the streets. Gangs set homes ablaze, trapping Saintil and others in a relentless barrage of gunfire.

The identity of the assailants remains elusive, casting a shadow of uncertainty over the community, which, once plagued by gangs, was cleansed by a UN peacekeeping mission in the mid-2000s. However, this latest assault could signal a pivotal moment for the gangs, now estimated to control a staggering 80% of Port-au-Prince, responsible for nearly 4,000 deaths and 3,000 kidnappings last year.

The potential fall of Solino raises concerns about gangs gaining unfettered access to peaceful neighborhoods like Canapé Vert. The escalating crisis prompted one resident to lament, "Life in Port-au-Prince has become extremely crazy. I never thought Port-au-Prince would turn out the way it is now," according to The Guardian.

Haiti Police Deploy to Solino

Late on Thursday, Haiti's national police responded, announcing the deployment of officers to Solino with the objective of tracking down and arresting armed individuals causing panic among the civilian population. A three-minute video released by the police depicted officers on a rooftop in Solino engaging in a firefight with unidentified gunmen.

Fearing the violence's spread, neighboring communities erected barricades using various makeshift materials, from rocks and trucks to tires and banana trees, aiming to thwart the gangs' entry.

As tensions escalate, concerns about the violence spreading to other neighborhoods prompted parents to rush to schools across Port-au-Prince to retrieve their children. One anxious mother, unwilling to disclose her name out of fear, expressed uncertainty about returning home amidst burning tires and disrupted public transportation.

Haiti pins hope on the awaited deployment of a foreign armed force led by Kenya, sanctioned by the UN Security Council in October to quell the rampant gang violence. However, a looming obstacle exists, with a Kenyan judge expected to issue a ruling on January 26 regarding an order presently obstructing the deployment.

The international community watches with bated breath as Haiti grapples with this escalating crisis, hoping for a swift and effective resolution to restore peace to the beleaguered nation, Associated Press reported.