Residents fleeing clashes between rival armed groups gathered on Monday near routes leading to Toussaint Louverture International Airport after gunmen attacked neighborhoods, burned homes and expanded fighting across parts of Port-au-Prince, according to residents and local authorities.

Monique Verdieux, 56, said she escaped after armed men set houses ablaze in her neighborhood, leaving her separated from relatives who fled in different directions.“I am now sleeping in the street,” Verdieux said, adding that returning home was too dangerous.

The latest violence underscores the deepening collapse of public security in Haiti, where gangs have steadily expanded territorial control since the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. Authorities estimate criminal groups now control more than 90% of Port-au-Prince, while kidnappings, looting and sexual violence have spread beyond the capital into rural regions.

Haiti has remained without an elected president since Moïse was killed at his private residence, contributing to a prolonged political vacuum and weakening state institutions.Security concerns near the airport have also alarmed major businesses operating in the country.

Haitian rum producer Rhum Barbancourt and two of the nation’s largest bottling companies warned in a joint statement on Sunday that worsening insecurity and damaged roads around the airport were hampering patrols by security forces and disrupting commercial activity.

“The government’s response has been largely insufficient,” the companies said, adding that deteriorating road conditions near the airport had further undermined efforts to secure the area.Operations at the airport are now severely restricted, according to the statement.

The violence has intensified despite the gradual deployment of an international security mission backed by the United Nations. In April, the first contingent of foreign troops linked to the mission arrived in Haiti to support local police in combating armed groups.

The U.N. Security Council approved plans in September for a multinational force of 5,550 personnel, although the full contingent has yet to be deployed.

Troops from Chad are among those reported to have arrived in the country.According to the International Organization for Migration, gang violence has displaced more than 1.4 million people across Haiti.

The agency said roughly 200,000 displaced people are living in overcrowded and underfunded shelters in the capital.

Haiti is facing a multi-layered humanitarian emergency marked by escalating armed violence, institutional breakdown and worsening food insecurity, with children bearing the brunt of the crisis, according to data and operational updates released by UNICEF.

The agency describes the situation as a “polycrisis,” where overlapping shocks have pushed already fragile systems close to collapse.Even before the latest deterioration, Haiti was the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, shaped by decades of limited access to basic services, deep inequality and persistent social exclusion.

These structural challenges have intensified as armed groups expand their control, particularly in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and surrounding regions such as the Artibonite department. According to UNICEF, these groups are engaged in territorial conflicts that have disrupted transport corridors, restricted economic activity and impeded the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

The breakdown of security has had direct consequences for essential services. Health systems in several parts of the country are described as being on the brink of collapse, with facilities rendered inaccessible due to insecurity. UNICEF reports that thousands of families are unable to reach healthcare providers, while staff shortages and rising demand further strain the limited capacity that remains.

Displacement has compounded these pressures, as families fleeing violence seek refuge in areas already struggling to maintain basic services.By the end of 2025, an estimated 1.4 million people had been internally displaced, approximately half of them children. This movement of populations has intensified vulnerabilities, particularly among children who face heightened risks of malnutrition, interrupted education and exposure to violence.

UNICEF estimates that 2.6 million children in Haiti required humanitarian assistance at the start of 2026, reflecting the scale of need across the country.Food insecurity has reached critical levels. Nearly 5.7 million people, representing more than half the population, are experiencing or are projected to experience acute food insecurity.

Among them are approximately 1.2 million children under the age of five, a group particularly vulnerable to life-threatening malnutrition. UNICEF indicates that hunger is most severe in densely populated and insecure urban areas, where access to food, healthcare and social services has been severely disrupted.The education sector has also been significantly affected.

Armed violence, including attacks on schools and threats against educators, has led to widespread closures and intermittent reopening of institutions. During the 2024–2025 academic year, more than 1,600 schools were reported closed, affecting around 7,500 teachers and disrupting learning for over 240,000 students.

UNICEF notes that beyond formal education, schools in Haiti often serve as critical support systems, providing meals and a sense of stability for children living in volatile environments.The impact of the crisis on children extends beyond disrupted services. UNICEF reports that children are increasingly exposed to violence, including being killed or injured while traveling to school.

Women and girls face heightened risks of sexual violence, while children are at risk of recruitment into armed groups. In some cases, children are coerced into joining such groups due to economic desperation or threats against their families. Others join after being separated from caregivers, seeking protection or means of survival.

Humanitarian conditions are further complicated by recurring climate-related shocks, which add to the strain on already weakened systems. While specific events are not detailed in the latest update, UNICEF identifies climate-related disruptions as a contributing factor to the broader crisis dynamics, particularly in terms of food security and displacement.

In response, UNICEF states that it is scaling up its operations despite the volatile environment. Working with government authorities and partners, the agency is attempting to sustain essential services at national, regional and local levels. In areas where access is particularly constrained, efforts are focused on maintaining neighborhood-level systems that can deliver basic support to affected populations.

UNICEF reports that its interventions include the delivery of vaccines and therapeutic food, as well as initiatives to improve access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene. The agency is also prioritizing psychosocial support for children affected by violence and displacement, alongside protection services for victims of gender-based violence and unaccompanied minors.

Education remains a key focus of the response. UNICEF is distributing school kits and advocating for the protection of educational facilities, urging all parties involved in the conflict to refrain from actions that undermine children’s access to learning.

A nationwide cash transfer program has been introduced to support families, with the aim of enabling children to return to school and reducing economic pressures that may lead to child labor or recruitment into armed groups.

At the policy level, UNICEF is calling for an end to violations against children, including killings, recruitment into armed groups and sexual violence. The agency is urging armed groups to cease attacks on civilian infrastructure, release children from their ranks and allow safe access for humanitarian operations.

It is also calling on security forces to prioritize child protection and on government authorities and international partners to invest in social services that address the needs of children across sectors.The operational environment remains highly constrained. UNICEF notes that ongoing violence continues to obstruct humanitarian access, limiting the ability of aid organizations to reach affected populations consistently.

Despite these challenges, the agency maintains that sustaining basic services and protection mechanisms is critical to mitigating the long-term impact of the crisis on Haiti’s children.

Washington (Reuters) – The United States on Wednesday said it will boost support for the Haitian police as they battle armed gangs and will speed up delivery of aid to a country suffering from crippling shortages of basic goods due to a gang blockade of a key fuel terminal.