Masses of residents flee homes in Haiti’s capital as gangs ratchet up violence

PORT-AU-PRINCE (AP) — Masses of residents fled a running battle Thursday between gang members and police in one of the few neighborhoods of Haiti’s capital that hadn’t already been fully taken over by gangs, as violence flared amid political turmoil.

Families frantically packed mattresses and furniture into cars and carried their belongings on their heads as they left the Solino neighborhood, one of a handful of areas in Port-au-Prince where a coalition of gangs, called Viv Ansanm, and police were locked in a violent firefight over the past several days.

“We barely made it out,” said 52-year-old Jean-Jean Pierre, who carrying his son in his arms as he fled the neighborhood with throngs of people. “I’ve lived here 40 years of my life and I’ve never seen it this bad.”

Violence has exploded in the capital since Sunday when Haiti’s transitional council created to restore democratic order fired the interim prime minister amid political infighting. The Caribbean nation hasn’t held an election since 2016, largely because of the gang violence.