By Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Africanews
Published on 2024-01-19 14:54:46
Gang members have launched a violent attack on the key community of Solino in Haiti’s capital, which is home to many police officers and has been under siege for four days. The ongoing attack has left residents fearful of the violence spreading throughout Port-au-Prince.
The sound of automatic weapons filled the air in Solino on Thursday, with thick black smoke rising above the once peaceful neighborhood. Frantic residents reached out to radio stations asking for help, expressing their desperation as the violence escalated.
Lita Saintil, a 52-year-old street vendor, fled Solino with her teenage nephew after being trapped in her house for hours by continuous gunfire. They witnessed homes being set on fire by gangs and saw at least six bodies as they fled, leaving Saintil feeling scared and uncertain about their future.
Another resident, Nenel Volme, was caught in the crossfire while chatting with a friend near his house on Sunday and suffered a bullet wound in his right hand. With no means to seek medical treatment, he expressed his helplessness and pain as he struggled with the injury.
It is not clear who organized and participated in the attack on Solino. The community, which is home to thousands of people, was previously overrun by gangs before a U.N. peacekeeping mission drove them out in the mid-2000s.
The attack on Solino could mark a turning point for gangs, which are believed to control up to 80% of Port-au-Prince and have been responsible for thousands of deaths and kidnappings, overwhelming the local police force.
If Solino falls, gangs would have easy access to peaceful neighborhoods, potentially spreading the violence even further. The ongoing crisis has left residents feeling desperate and uncertain about the future of their city.
The Haiti National Police deployed officers to Solino in an effort to arrest armed individuals and maintain order. Nearby communities began erecting barricades to prevent gangs from entering, and concerns grew about the violence spreading to other neighborhoods.
Amid the chaos, parents rushed to schools to pick up their children, fearful of the escalating violence. Haiti is awaiting the deployment of a foreign armed force led by Kenya, approved by the U.N. Security Council, to help quell the gang violence. However, a ruling in Kenya regarding the deployment is pending, further adding to the uncertainty and fear in Haiti.
