On Sunday, Haiti's de facto government declared a 72-hour state of emergency and imposed nightly curfews following a surge in violence. Armed men raided a prison, freeing thousands, while a gang leader called for the removal of Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
The Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, announced that its defense minister was overseeing progress on a border fence. Meanwhile, the United States advised its citizens to leave Haiti immediately, and Brazil called for the implementation of a U.N. resolution to send a multinational force to Haiti.
The violence intensified as doubts arose over Prime Minister Henry's whereabouts while he was in Kenya negotiating for support in combating the powerful gangs. Heavy gunfire erupted near Port Au Prince's international airport, prompting authorities to urge residents to keep children indoors.
Neighboring countries, such as the Bahamas and Mexico, have taken precautions, with the Bahamas recalling embassy staff and Mexico advising its nationals to limit travel and stock up on essentials. The International Organization for Migration reported that around 15,000 people fled the capital last week alone, seeking refuge from the escalating violence.
Despite efforts to deploy an international force to restore security, progress has been slow. The U.N.-backed mission has received pledges from several countries, including Benin and Kenya, but deployment dates remain uncertain. In the meantime, aid groups have been forced to suspend operations due to the precarious security situation, leaving many vulnerable Haitians without access to essential services.
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