A wave of deadly gang violence has engulfed the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least 30 residents and leaving more than a dozen injured, according to a report released by a local human rights group on Thursday.
The streets of the Carrefour-Feuilles neighborhood have turned into scenes of chaos and devastation, as homes were set ablaze in a series of ruthless attacks.
Among the victims, two police officers also lost their lives while attempting to quell the rising violence.
The Carrefour-Feuilles neighborhood holds strategic importance for the gangs, who have managed to establish control over approximately 80 percent of Port-au-Prince.
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The reign of gang violence has led to an alarming rise in various forms of criminal activities, including kidnappings for ransom, carjacking, sexual assaults, and armed thefts, which have sadly become all too commonplace in Carrefour-Feuilles.
Dominique Charles, a heartbroken resident of the beleaguered neighborhood, recounted the devastating loss her family has endured.
“The assailants attacked our house with Molotov cocktails. I was able to escape, but the other family members were not so lucky,” she lamented.
Her family’s tragic story is echoed by many others who have been swept up in the escalating violence.
Recent days have witnessed a mass exodus of around 5,000 residents from the Carrefour-Feuilles area, as people flee for their lives seeking refuge from the relentless brutality.
Some have found temporary shelter in schools or a local sports center, but others remain stranded on the streets, struggling to find safety amidst the chaos.
In response to the situation, authorities have begun to distribute essential supplies, including meals and water, to the survivors who are desperately clinging to hope in the face of hardship.
