In Port-au-Prince, Haiti, intense gunfire broke out on Monday in the downtown area as police engaged in a prolonged battle with gang members near the National Palace. According to local media reports, at least one police officer was shot during the confrontation, which also saw officers forced to abandon an armored vehicle that was later set ablaze.
Many individuals found themselves trapped by the gunfire in downtown Port-au-Prince, while others managed to escape. One individual, who requested anonymity out of concern for their safety, recounted being stranded for five hours until being rescued by police, as told to The Associated Press.
“It’s the armored car that covered us leave the area,” he said.
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More than a month following the commencement of attacks by powerful gangs on crucial government infrastructure, the recent gun battle erupted. These gangs have targeted police stations, engaged in gunfire at the main international airport (which remains closed), and raided the nation’s two largest prisons, resulting in the release of over 4,000 inmates.
Though the violence has eased somewhat in certain regions since the onset of attacks on February 29, the sound of gunfire continues to resonate daily.
According to the United Nations, as of March 22, at least 1,554 fatalities have been reported, with an additional 826 individuals injured.
The escalating situation compelled Prime Minister Ariel Henry to announce his forthcoming resignation last month, contingent upon the establishment of a transitional council. Despite being on an official trip to Kenya to advocate for the U.N.-endorsed deployment of a police force from the East African nation, Henry remains barred from entry into Haiti.
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