At least 18 civilians have been confirmed dead in Port-au-Prince following intensified gang violence, with survivors describing widespread destruction and sexual violence. Armed groups, including the 400 Mawozo gang, have seized control of northern districts, forcing thousands to flee their homes.
Lucien, a resident of the affected area, recounted how 400 Mawozo members burned his house and killed neighbors before razing their properties. Witnesses also reported gang members committing sexual assaults during raids, according to local accounts.
Over 50 people sought shelter in a public square near the fighting, while others remain stranded in their homes. A resident described his brother being injured by a stray bullet on Sunday but unable to access medical care due to supply shortages and unsafe conditions.
Civilians in the conflict zone face severe food and water shortages. A young woman detailed her father's critical health condition, noting he cannot obtain medication because of the dangerous environment. Armed groups expanded their influence across the capital and countryside starting in 2020, according to local reports.
The 400 Mawozo gang gained international attention in October 2021 after abducting 17 North American missionaries. The northern districts at the center of recent fighting control vital transportation routes between Port-au-Prince and the Dominican Republic, as well as southern highway access to the capital.
National police have not intervened in the northern suburbs since Sunday. Lacking sufficient weaponry to confront better-armed gangs, authorities have failed to reclaim key areas. In the Martissant neighborhood, gangs forced Doctors Without Borders to shut down a 15-year-old hospital operation.
The ongoing conflict has paralyzed northern parts of the capital, with no official response from authorities as civilians endure the violence.
