Haiti Gangs Launch Major Attack Following New Prime Minister Announcement

In a chilling escalation of violence, gangs in Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital, have launched a massive attack on several neighborhoods, burning homes and engaging in fierce gunfights with police. The onslaught, which began late Wednesday and continued into early Thursday, has forced hundreds of residents to flee their homes, seeking safety from the relentless chaos.

Why this matters: The escalating gang violence in Haiti's capital has significant implications for regional stability and global security, as it can lead to a humanitarian crisis and potentially destabilize the entire Caribbean region. The escalating gang violence in Haiti's capital has significant implications for regional stability and global security, as it can lead to a humanitarian crisis and potentially destabilize the entire Caribbean region. In addition, the inability of the Haitian government to control the gangs raises concerns about the effectiveness of its institutions and the potential for further violence to spread.

The affected neighborhoods, including Solino and Delmas 18, 20, and 24, are located southwest of the main international airport, which has been closed for nearly two months as a result of the unrelenting gang violence. The attacks have left the once-thriving streets eerily silent, with only the occasional bleating of a lone goat piercing the heavy stillness.

At the forefront of this latest wave of violence is Jimmy Chérizier, also known as Barbecue, a former elite police officer who now leads the notorious G9 Family and Allies gang federation. Under Chérizier's command, the gangs have unleashed a reign of terror, setting homes ablaze and exchanging intense gunfire with police forces.

Residents who managed to escape the violence paint a grim account of the destruction left in the wake of the attacks. "The gangs started burning everything in sight,"recounted Néne, a resident who fled with his family, declining to provide his last name out of fear. "I was hiding in a corner all night."

For those who lost their homes, the attack has left them with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Paul Pierre, 47, described the harrowing experience of losing his home: "There were gunshots left and right. Everyone is just trying to save themselves." Many residents were forced to flee empty-handed, their belongings consumed by the flames.

The intensity of the violence has left a lasting mark on the survivors. Martineda, a woman who lost her home and is now homeless, recounted the terrifying ordeal:"Gunfire, gunfire, gunfire everywhere! No one slept. Everyone was running. "The attack has not only robbed people of their homes but also their sense of security and stability.

This latest attacks announced is part of a larger pattern of violence that has gripped Haiti's capital since February 29. Gangs have burned police stations, opened fire on the main international airport, and even stormed the country's two largest prisons, freeing over 4,000 inmates. The unrelenting violence has led to the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry and the formation of a transitional presidential council.

The announcement of Fritz Bélizaire as Haiti's new prime minister on Tuesday has done little to quell the violence. Instead, it has become one of the biggest attacks since his appointment, underscoring the immense challenges he faces in restoring order and security to the beleaguered nation.

The human toll of the violence is staggering. According to the United Nations, more than 2,500 people have been killed or injured from January to March of this year, a 50% increase compared to the same period last year. Over 90,000 people have fled Port-au-Prince in just one month as gangs increasingly target previously peaceful neighborhoods.

Gangs continue to exert their control over an estimated 80% of the capital, and Haitians are demanding that their new leaders prioritize their safety and security. The gangs remain better armed and more powerful than Haiti's National Police, leaving residents feeling helpless and abandoned.

For those who have called Port-au-Prince home their entire lives, the decision to leave is a painful one. Ernest Aubrey, a resident who is leaving his home for the first time, lamented, "It's too much. We can't resist anymore. They are taking everything we own." The fresh, attacks, days, new, announced has forced many to make the heart-wrenching choice between staying in the face of danger or leaving behind everything they have ever known.

Key Takeaways

• Gangs in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, launch massive attack on several neighborhoods.
• Violence forces hundreds to flee, seeking safety from chaos and destruction.
• Jimmy Chérizier, aka Barbecue, leads notorious G9 Family and Allies gang federation.
• Over 2,500 people killed or injured in Haiti from Jan-Mar, a 50% increase from last year.
• Gangs control 80% of the capital, leaving residents feeling helpless and abandoned.