Residents of Haiti's capital shelter in place as violence escalates

Roads in the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince are being blocked by rocks and burning tires, Reuters reported. The flaming barricades are sending huge plumes of black smoke into the sky over the city and surrounding areas, forcing residents to return to their homes and shelter in place.

Haitians seek refuge as violence escalates picture 1 — A woman and a child stand near a police vehicle after leaving school amid gang violence in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, March 3, 2023. Photo: Reuters

The Solino area of Port-au-Prince, a poor residential area, has been under siege for several days. The motive behind the siege is unclear.

The Solino area has recorded two dozen deaths since the weekend, said Pierre Esperance of the Haitian National Network for the Defense of Human Rights (RNDDH).

“There was no police or security forces present,” Pierre said. “People from other areas had taken to the streets to show solidarity with Solino.”

Violence in Haiti has been escalating for months as gangs vie for power and seek to put pressure on interim Prime Minister Ariel Henry, before a political deal consolidating his power expires on February 7, analysts say.

Violence erupted ahead of a January 26 court hearing for a Kenyan-led multinational force to tackle gang violence in one of the Western Hemisphere's poorest countries.

Ngoc Anh (according to Reuters)

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