30 Killed in Gang Attacks in Haiti

An area human rights group claims that gang violence in Port-au-Prince, the nation's capital, has resulted in the deaths of 30 individuals and the injuries of over a dozen more.

The National Human Rights Defense Network provided AFP with the original death toll from the attacks, which also resulted in the deaths of two police officers and the burning of homes in the city's Carrefour-Feuilles neighborhood.

Since the gangs control more than 80% of the Haitian capital, the area is significant to them.

Violence-related crimes such rapes, carjackings, ransom kidnappings, armed robberies, and others are common.

One of the inmates, Dominique Charles, revealed to AFP that she had lost her mother, stepfather, son, 18, two sisters, and brother.

"The assailants attacked our house with Molotov cocktails. I was able to escape but the other family members were not so lucky," she said.

About 5,000 inhabitants have left the area in recent days due to neighborhood unrest, according to police.

Others have been left in the streets, while some of the displaced have taken shelter in nearby sports facilities or schools.

Authorities said on Thursday that they had begun giving the survivors food and water.

The weak administration and security forces of the Caribbean nation are being overrun by humanitarian, political, and security issues.