At Least 78 Dead in Haiti Gang Clashes Since Saturday: UN

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Port- AU- Prince: The United Nations said on Thursday that since Saturday, at least 78 people have been killed and 66 injured in violent clashes between rival gangs in Haiti, as the Caribbean country continues to see an upsurge of bloodshed.

According to the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), the conflict has mainly affected the communes of Cité Soleil and Croix-des-Bouquets in the suburbs of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Around 5,300 people have been evacuated by armed gangs fighting for control of their territory, forcing many families to leave their homes.

According to the UN, civilians were among those killed in the violence, which has put more strain on Haiti's already overburdened healthcare and humanitarian institutions. In the midst of continuous gunshots and insecurity, hospitals and emergency services in the areas affected have found it difficult to operate.

Over the past two years, Haiti has gone through a growing security dilemma as heavily armed gangs have taken control of key transportation networks and a large portion of Port-au-Prince. Access to food, gasoline, and medical supplies has been restricted by the violence, and thousands of people are still homeless.

Without greater safety and humanitarian support, the international community has repeatedly warned that Haiti is on the verge of collapse. So far, a multinational security team led by Kenya that was sent earlier this year has had trouble containing the gangs' expanding power.