Haiti Violence: Gangs Try To Take Over Main International Airport

Amid ongoing violence in Haiti, the gang members tried to take over the country's main international airport on Monday as they engaged in gunfire with police and soldiers.

The attack on Toussaint Louverture International Airport adds to the surge of violence targeting crucial government sites including the mass escape of inmates from two biggest prisons over the weekend.

During the attack, the airport was closed as there were no operating planes or passengers at that time. According to AP News, there was an armored truck on the tarmac fired at the gangs to stop them from entering the site, prompting employees and workers to flee from the gunfire.

However, it is not clear whether the gang members were able to take over control of the main airport or not. Even last week, the airport was attacked by the gangs but they did not attempt to seize control of it.

The attack took place just a few hours after Finance Minister Patrick Boivert, who is currently serving as the acting prime minister, declared a state of emergency in response to the weekend jailbreak.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric spoke about the surge in Haiti violence and said, "The secretary-general is deeply concerned by the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Port-au-Prince, where armed gangs have intensified their attacks on critical infrastructure over the weekend."

According to an estimate, the gang members already took control over 80% of the country's capital, Port-au-Prince. Criminals are coordinating their attacks and choosing to target several state institutions including the Central Bank, the country's international airport, and police stations.

The armed gangs want to oust Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who took over the office without elections after Haiti's last president was assassinated in 2021. Since then, the country witnessed a rise in violent gangs.

Hundreds of Haitian protesters took to the streets last month, asking for the resignation of the unelected Prime Minister. However, the police used tear gas to disperse the crowds, who were demonstrating against the administration.

The United Nations' food agency, the World Food Program (WFP) said last month that the surge in violence is causing significant obstacles in delivering essential supplies to hundreds of thousands of vulnerable individuals in the country.