Haiti: Fear Cripples Port-au-Prince Amid Soaring Gang Violence

In the heart of Port-au-Prince, Haiti gangs launched a relentless assault on Solino, a community housing numerous police officers, according to Al Jazeera.

The siege, which has endured for four days, has left residents fearing the potential spread of violence across the city.

Thick columns of black smoke rose above Solino on Thursday as the sound of automatic weapons echoed through the once-peaceful neighborhood.

Frantic calls for help inundated radio stations, with residents trapped in their homes by incessant gunfire.

"If police don't come, we are dying today!" said an anonymous caller.

Lita Saintil, a 52-year-old street vendor, and her teenage nephew fled their house, surrounded by torched homes and the haunting sight of at least six bodies.

"It's very scary now," she said. "I don't know where I'm going."

The attackers' identity remains unclear, but analysts suggest escalating violence among Haiti gangs, vying for power and exerting pressure on interim Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

This surge in Haiti gang violence coincides with the approaching expiry of a political accord on February 7 that consolidated Henry's power.

Escalating Violence and Civil Unrest

Pierre Esperance, from the Human Rights Network RNDDH, reported at least two dozen deaths in Solino since the weekend, Reuters reports.

He highlighted the absence of police and public physical force in the impoverished neighborhood.

"Police are absent. The public physical force is not present, and the population in (other) areas have blocked the streets in solidarity with Solino," Esperance said.

In solidarity with Solino, residents in other areas blocked streets, amplifying the urgency for intervention.

The violence precedes a crucial court decision on January 26 regarding a Kenyan-led multinational force proposed to address Haiti gang violence, one of the poorest nations in the Western Hemisphere.

Despite requests for comments, a police spokesperson has not responded.

Haiti Prime Minister is confronting various factions aiming to oust him, including former rebel Guy Philippe, a convicted US felon.

Moïse Jean-Charles, leader of the Pitit Dessalines party, has called for protests in the upcoming days and weeks.

As of now, there is no scheduled date for a new presidential election.

Nuns Kidnapped Amid Soaring Haiti Gang Violence

Adding to the distressing situation, six nuns were kidnapped as they traveled on a bus through Haiti's capital, AP noted.

The nuns, belonging to the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Anne, were accompanied by an unspecified number of other individuals who were also abducted.

Responsibility for the kidnappings remains unknown, but the pervasive influence of Haiti gangs controlling approximately 80% of Port-au-Prince raises concerns.

The Haitian Conference of the Religious expressed deep sadness and fear, citing an alarming increase in kidnappings across Haiti.

Last year alone, around 3,000 people were reported kidnapped, according to UN statistics.

This incident follows a pattern of high-profile abductions, including the November kidnapping of renowned Haitian Dr. Douglas Pape and the October 2021 abduction of 17 members of a US religious organization, who were later freed after enduring captivity for up to two months.

As Haiti grapples with escalating violence and the targeting of vulnerable communities, concerns grow over the efficacy of law enforcement and the urgent need for international intervention to address the root causes of the crisis.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Gangs in Haiti have attacked a community for 4 days and residents fear the violence could spread - From africanews