PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — On Saturday, a coalition of gangs intensified their assaults on one of the few neighborhoods in the Haitian capital that remains free from criminal influence, attempting to annex the area.

Following a volatile week of confrontations with law enforcement in the Solino district of Port-au-Prince, members of the gang coalition known as Viv Ansanm launched another attack. This recent onslaught resulted in the burning of multiple homes, with the national police union cautioning that the area is nearing total domination by the armed groups.

As dawn broke on Saturday, alarming images circulated on social media depicting the neighborhood enveloped in thick smoke and flames. Distressed residents were seen evacuating with whatever belongings they could salvage. Gunfire erupted between security forces and armed gang members near Solino’s police station, heightening the chaos.

The national police union, SPNH-17, expressed grave concerns on social media, stating, “Solino and Nazon are on the brink of collapse!” They also called for the resignation of government officials amid the escalating crisis. Nazon, a nearby neighborhood, was similarly affected by the violence.

Viv Ansanm, which translates to “Living Together,” was established in September 2023 as a partnership between previously rival gang federations. This coalition has a history of violent actions, including attacks on crucial government facilities that contributed to Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s resignation earlier in the year.

In a separate incident on Thursday, gang members opened fire on a U.N. helicopter, leading to an emergency landing in Port-au-Prince. Consequently, a U.S. airline announced the temporary cancellation of flights to Haiti’s capital. Meanwhile, residents of Solino have been urgently contacting radio stations, pleading for assistance as they flee their homes.

Garry Jean-Joseph, a 33-year-old resident of Solino, expressed his frustration with the police regarding the ongoing turmoil. “I left with nothing,” he lamented. “The people of Solino cannot comprehend the betrayal from the police and the Living Together soldiers.”

He recounted a disturbing event at 2 a.m., when a police officer in an armored vehicle instructed residents to return to their homes, promising to secure the area. Shortly thereafter, however, residents could hear gang members infiltrating their neighborhood. “The police have surrendered Solino,” he stated.

Numerous officers within Haiti’s National Police have faced long-standing accusations of corruption and collusion with gang elements.

According to a report published on Thursday by the U.N.’s International Organization for Migration, the violence has displaced over 10,000 individuals within just one week. More than half of those displaced are crammed into 14 temporary shelters, including schools, while others are living with relatives.

Currently, gangs exert control over around 80% of Port-au-Prince, with communities like Solino resisting attempts to fall under gunmen’s sway. The recent surge in gang violence has raised alarm over the efficacy of a U.N.-backed mission led by Kenyan police, which appears to be struggling to manage the upheaval. Thousands have been killed or injured this year alone, and over 700,000 have been rendered homeless in recent years.

U.S. and Haitian officials, including interim President Leslie Voltaire, have pointed out the Kenyan mission’s deficiencies in personnel and funding, calling for it to be replaced with a more robust U.N. peacekeeping operation.

Earlier this year, a series of coordinated gang attacks compelled the Haitian government to close the country’s main international airport for nearly three months, highlighting the severe challenges faced in restoring order.