All articles tagged with #port au prince
Mourners filed into a Kenscoff church in Port-au-Prince for a funeral service honoring victims of a recent gang attack that killed dozens, underscoring Haiti’s ongoing wave of violence and its impact on families and communities.
Overnight, armed gangs swept through Kenscoff overlooking Port-au-Prince, killing at least 47 and wounding more than 22, the UN said; the hillside enclave has faced repeated attacks as gangs widen their grip, prompting anger at authorities and calls for accountability as UN-backed security forces push to bolster protection.
Armed gangs attacked the Kenscoff district near Port-au-Prince, prompting government condemnation and a pledge to pursue those responsible as security forces deploy reinforcements. The assault highlights Haiti’s raging gang violence, which has displaced about 1.5 million people and left thousands dead or injured this year, with authorities citing eight armored vehicles involved and ongoing security concerns ahead of elections and continued deportations.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited Haiti amid escalating gang violence, meeting interim authorities and residents in a makeshift shelter and urging international support to restore security and hold elections.
Armed men kidnapped James Boyard, Haiti's police inspector general and the defence minister's chief of staff, in Port-au-Prince, with his wife and six-year-old daughter also seized and a ransom reportedly requested. The incident highlights a surge in gang violence that has hampered security efforts, left thousands dead, and displaced about 1.5 million people this year, according to UN figures.
Armed men abducted James Boyard, the Defense Ministry’s cabinet director and police inspector general, in Bourdon, Port-au-Prince—marking the highest-ranking kidnapping in years amid widespread gang control of the capital. Officials haven’t confirmed who is behind the raid or any ransom. Boyard’s work on security reform and armed forces rebuilding highlights the country’s volatile security climate, where kidnappings have surged in areas once considered safe and gangs continue to target public figures.
Armed men in Port-au-Prince abducted James Boyard, Haiti’s senior defense official, in a rare high‑level kidnapping amid a surge of gang violence that has produced hundreds of kidnappings in recent months, underscoring the country’s fragile security situation.
In Port-au-Prince’s Cité Soleil, residents protested for police protection after weekend gang clashes drove hundreds from their homes, with reports of killings and arson as hospitals evacuated and the U.N.-backed force works to quell the violence.
Armed gang clashes in Port-au-Prince force hundreds to flee their homes, scattering families along the road to Toussaint Louverture airport as authorities and aid groups scramble to respond.
At least 30 people were killed in a stampede at Laferriere Citadel in northern Haiti during the annual UNESCO World Heritage celebration; rain at the entrance worsened conditions and the toll could rise. The fortress, built in the early 19th century after Haiti's independence, is a major tourist site as Haiti contends with gang violence and a heavy security crackdown.
Doctors Without Borders has permanently closed its emergency center in Port-au-Prince due to ongoing gang violence, which has also led to the closure of over 60% of the city's health facilities and displaced 1.4 million people, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Haiti.
Doctors Without Borders has permanently closed its emergency care center in Port-au-Prince due to ongoing gang violence, which has also led to the closure of over 60% of the city's health facilities and displaced 1.4 million people, severely impacting healthcare access in Haiti.
The historic Hotel Oloffson in Port-au-Prince, a cultural landmark and former haven for artists and writers, was burned down by gangs amid escalating violence in Haiti, symbolizing a significant loss to the nation's heritage and ongoing political instability.
The UN reports that gangs in Haiti now control nearly all of Port-au-Prince and are expanding their influence across the country, leading to increased violence, economic disruption, and a collapse of government authority, with international support efforts remaining underfunded and insufficient.
Haiti's gangs have gained near-total control of Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas, escalating violence and undermining government authority, with the UN warning of potential total collapse without increased international support.