Thousands flee homes in Haiti as gangs make violent push for power

Amid escalating violence in Haiti, large numbers of people fled the Solino neighborhood in Port-au-Prince on Thursday one of the few areas in the capital that had remained largely under the control of residents rather than gangs. Families rushed to pack their belongings—mattresses, furniture, and personal items—into cars or carried them on their heads as they sought safety from the fighting. The neighborhood has become the latest battleground between a coalition of gangs, known as Viv Ansanm, and the police, who have been locked in violent clashes for several days.

The surge in violence comes as Haiti grapples with political turmoil following the dismissal of its interim prime minister amid infighting and corruption allegations within the transitional government. The country has not held an election since 2016, largely due to the pervasive control of gangs over much of the territory, especially in the capital. The worsening insecurity is further destabilizing an already fragile nation, as gangs continue to exploit the political vacuum, making everyday life increasingly perilous for Haitians.

Gangs like the Viv Ansanm coalition often seize on moments of political chaos to make power grabs like the one seen in Solino in recent days.

Gangs in Haiti have intensified their control, with a series of attacks on Monday that led to the shutdown of the country’s main airport. Several planes were shot at, and a flight attendant was wounded in the assault. The United Nations reported that there were 20 armed clashes in Port-au-Prince on the same day, further underscoring the extent of the violence. The UN estimates that gangs now control around 85 percent of the capital.

In response to the escalating violence, Haiti’s new interim Prime Minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, who was sworn in earlier this week, has remained largely silent on the broader situation. However, he condemned the airport attacks in a statement released Wednesday, noting that he had ordered police forces to regain control of the airport and surrounding areas.

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As violence rages in areas like Solino, videos on social media show thick smoke rising from the streets, and gunfire continues to echo through the neighborhood. The escalating crisis has deepened the sense of insecurity, further destabilizing an already fragile country.

While it wasn’t immediately clear how many people were fleeing the violence in Solino, it appeared that much of the neighborhood was emptying out.