The humanitarian crisis has escalated in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, where hospitals have been attacked, infrastructure has been closed, and threats to food supplies have intensified following another night of clashes between police and armed gangs. Philippe Branchat, the head of the International Organization for Migration mission in Haiti, warned that "the residents of the capital live in isolation with nowhere else to go," describing the situation as "a city under siege." He added, "Those fleeing are unable to contact their family members and friends in other parts of the country. The capital is surrounded by armed groups and dangers."
Criminal gangs, which control most of the capital as well as the roads leading to the rest of the country, have been attacking police stations, prisons, and courts for several days, amid the absence of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, whose resignation is demanded by these gangs—a demand shared by a segment of the population. According to the latest information, Henry is stranded in Puerto Rico after a trip abroad. The Haitian government declared a state of emergency in the western province that includes Port-au-Prince and imposed a nighttime curfew that is difficult to enforce, while government offices and schools have been closed. Due to the security breakdown, the capital's airport has ceased operations, as has the port, whose operator suspended activities.
