Thousands of displaced men, women and children are abandoned in the streets of the capital.
By Isabelle Papillon, Haiti Liberté, May 13, 2026
Suddenly, several armed groups clashed in various neighborhoods such as Aral, rue Germain, Sarthe 40, Route Neuve, Blanchard, Pierre 6, Fourgy, Terre Noire, Nerette and Malo, within the Plaine du Cul-de-Sac.
What lies behind this new wave of violence? This is the question many observers are asking. These acts of violence erupted on Sunday, May 10th and Monday, May 11th, forcing many people to abandon their neighborhoods, their homes, and their belongings to escape stray bullets.
Indeed, several houses were also reportedly hit by gunfire. And since the night of Sunday, May 10th to Monday, May 11th, men, women, children, and the elderly have sought refuge in front of the SONAPI Industrial Park. In the affected neighborhoods, schools are closed and all commercial activity has ceased.
According to some residents, clashes between rival armed groups are escalating in several neighborhoods of the Cul-de-Sac Plain. Armed men affiliated with " Jeff " of the Taliban group and " Chen Mechan " reportedly launched an attack on the Duvivier neighborhood. But the exact reason for these clashes remains the crucial question to which the population would like an answer. I don't believe, in fact, that they started killing each other without any motive. One could certainly see it as the work of a madman, but what is the true catalyst for this open war?
This Tuesday, fear remains high in several areas of the Cul-de-Sac Plain. In front of the SONAPI building and at Carrefour 3 Mains, displaced people continue to flock in search of protection and humanitarian assistance.
The danger is so extreme that even the Partners in Development medical clinic, located near Damiens, had to close its doors for the first time, even as people were queuing outside, needing treatment for gunshot wounds. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has also been forced to suspend its operations in Cité Soleil, as the hospital is overwhelmed with critically ill patients, including more than 40 with gunshot wounds. Furthermore, MSF lacks the resources to guarantee the safety of patients and its medical staff.
Some claim that since the assassination of "Baby," a prominent leader of the Village La Renaissance gang, in March 2026, the Plain has descended into an unprecedented spiral of violence. It was "Champion," another gang leader in the area, who murdered Baby. His death left a power vacuum, immediately filled by a war of succession and territory. Three days after this incident, Jeff, from the "Taliban" group, launched an offensive to retake control of the village. This event triggered open conflict between the two armed groups.
Others argue that this is a struggle to determine which sector will control the Carrefour Duvivier toll plaza.
But the most significant information, coming from a well-informed source, is the following: in its bulletin dated May 10, 2026, OCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) estimates that 70% of the population of the plain is directly affected by the fighting, suffering from food shortages as well as a resurgence of sexual violence.
OCHA, which coordinates the 2026 emergency response plan for Haiti, has planned to release approximately US$127 million over a six-month period to respond to the humanitarian emergency in Haiti, particularly in the metropolitan area, a situation exacerbated by gang violence and food insecurity.
These funds should be allocated to the following areas:
– emergency food aid;
– healthcare (trauma related to war and violence);
– temporary accommodation for displaced persons;
– protection of civilians (especially women and children).
Thousands of displaced men, women, and children have been abandoned at Carrefour 3 Mains. However, many local observers are wondering if this declared war isn't a carefully calculated maneuver by certain NGO leaders to channel these funds to their own areas of operation. Aren't humanitarian projects, all too often, the guarantors of violence in certain parts of the country, benefiting a particular sector or an "invisible hand"?
Posted May 24, 2026