Hundreds of people flee new gang violence in Haiti

Key Points:

• A surge in gang violence in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, has forced hundreds of residents to flee their homes, with many families scattered along the road to the main airport, leaving some homeless and vulnerable.
• Gangs control over 90% of the capital since President Jovenal Moïse's assassination in July 2021, expanding their criminal activities into rural areas, while Haiti remains without a president.
• Doctors Without Borders evacuated its hospital in Cité Soleil after intense clashes, treating over 40 gunshot victims in 12 hours and providing shelter to 800 displaced people, highlighting the severe impact on civilians and humanitarian workers.
• Security concerns near Toussaint Louverture International Airport have led major Haitian companies to criticize the government's inadequate response and the poor condition of surrounding roads, which hinder effective security patrols.
• The UN has authorized a 5,550-member force to address the violence, with some troops from Chad deployed, but the force is not yet fully operational; gang violence has displaced over 1.4 million Haitians, many living in overcrowded conditions in the capital.