Port-au-Prince, Haiti — In a violent outbreak on Friday, several gangs launched attacks across various neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince, leading to the destruction of homes and a church. The chaos was marked by gunfire, leaving one woman dead amid the confrontation.

Residents, fearful and desperate, turned to radio stations for assistance late Thursday, expressing their urgency as the fighting unfolded in areas such as Solino, St. Michel, and Tabarre 27. A police union took to social media on Thursday to warn of imminent danger, indicating that numerous gunmen were poised to assault Solino, and urged for “immediate action” to address the crisis.

Haiti’s National Police did not provide an immediate response when contacted for a statement regarding the incidents. Meanwhile, Radio Télé Métronome reported a significant shift in the locale for a key event— the swearing-in ceremony of Haiti’s provisional electoral council, originally scheduled for downtown Port-au-Prince, was relocated to ensure safety amid the ongoing violence.

The motives behind these latest assaults remain unclear. However, the escalation follows recent operations involving Haitian and Kenyan police, who are part of a U.N.-endorsed initiative to tackle rampant gang violence. Just days prior, these forces reported the deaths of at least 20 suspected gang members in a region dominated by the notorious 400 Mawozo gang, which primarily operates in Tabarre.

Currently, gangs exert control over approximately 80% of Port-au-Prince, and while neighborhoods like Solino have been actively resisting these armed groups, the situation remains dire as they continue their attempts to dominate the area.