At least two women, including a pregnant woman, were killed in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, as violent attacks by gangs forced around 5,000 people to flee their homes, the country’s Civil Protection agency reported on Monday.
Haiti has struggled with gang violence for years, but the situation has worsened in recent months, intensifying the country’s ongoing humanitarian and security crises.
The victims were attacked in their homes in the Solino district by gangs associated with the “Viv Ansanm” coalition. The assaults set homes and vehicles ablaze, sending thick smoke billowing across the area. In a separate incident, a school in L’Estere was targeted, resulting in one parent’s death and several children injured.
This rise in violence occurs despite a UN-backed mission led by Kenya, which aims to support Haiti’s overwhelmed police force. However, the deployment of personnel is significantly below the target of 2,500 officers. Gangs still control about 80% of Port-au-Prince and many of the country’s major roads.
According to the UN, this year alone, violence has resulted in at least 3,661 deaths and displaced over 700,000 people, half of whom are children, as reported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
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