Clashes near Haiti capital disrupt livelihoods and force residents to flee

Armed clashes between rival gangs in northern Port-au-Prince, Haiti, have left an undetermined number of people dead and injured, while displacing hundreds over the past two days, according to local media reports.

The violence is concentrated in the Plaine du Cul de Sac area, where the absence of the Haitian National Police (PNH) and the Gang Repression Force (FRG) has led to a collapse of security. Reports indicate that a coalition of gangs—Chen Mechan, 400 Mawozo and Taliban—is confronting the armed group known as Pierre 6.

With no effective state intervention, residents have fled their homes abruptly, many escaping on foot or by motorcycle with little time to gather essential belongings. The escalation has also halted economic activity in the area, where key companies including Brasserie Sejourné, Brasserie La Couronne and MSC Trading remained closed on Monday.

Text Read: Clashes between armed gangs in Plaine du Cul de Sac, Haiti, leave dead, wounded, and hundreds displaced. The absence of the Haitian National Police and the economic paralysis are affecting the region.

Analysts cited by local media point to the presence of these private entities as a possible factor behind the dispute, given their role as significant sources of income in the area.

The clashes are taking place near Toussaint Louverture International Airport, which remains closed to international traffic due to deteriorating security conditions. Sunrise Airways is currently the only airline operating, maintaining limited domestic flights. The company stated that “the safety of passengers, crews and staff remains its priority,” adding that it is monitoring the situation in coordination with relevant authorities.

Amid the ongoing crisis, Chad has committed to deploying 1,500 troops to Haiti as part of what it described as “international solidarity and assistance to a brotherly country whose existence is under threat.” On April 1, an initial contingent of 50 personnel arrived to join the UN-backed Gang Suppression Force (GSF), which aims to reach 5,500 troops from Chad and other countries.

Texto Lee: OCHA’s latest Flash Update on the situation in Artibonite is now available in English and French. ➡️ Situation overview, urgent needs, and initial response capacity.

The inability of security forces to contain the fighting in a strategic area close to the country’s main air gateway underscores the severity of Haiti’s security crisis. As armed groups expand their territorial control, civilians remain the primary victims, facing displacement and the disruption of daily life in the capital.

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