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Haitian Police Vow Crackdown as Gang Violence Displaces Over 1 Million
Haitian authorities have pledged to intensify their crackdown on gang violence as armed groups continue to tighten their grip on Port-au-Prince, forcing over 1 million people from their homes. According to a UN human rights expert, gangs now control 85% of the capital, spreading terror and displacing families in unprecedented numbers.
This week, fresh gang attacks in western Port-au-Prince forced authorities to evacuate students from a school near the historic Oloffson Hotel after heavy gunfire erupted in the area. Meanwhile, reports circulated on social media of a group of priests trapped inside a church in Carrefour-Feuilles, a neighborhood targeted by the Viv Ansanm gang coalition late Tuesday.
Police Plan New Strategy Against Gangs
Haiti’s Deputy Police Spokesman Lionel Lazarre stated that law enforcement is actively preventing gangs from expanding their territorial control.
“They’re trying to take more areas, but police are there, making sure that doesn’t happen,” Lazarre said during a press conference on Wednesday. He confirmed that police have developed new anti-gang strategies but withheld details for security reasons.
In a recent operation, police seized 10,000 bullets, weapons, and drugs from a minibus in Mirebalais, northeast of Port-au-Prince. However, tensions escalated when two of the four suspects were lynched by a mob on Sunday, while the others managed to escape.
UN Warns of Worsening Humanitarian Crisis
The latest wave of violence follows a visit by William O’Neill, the UN’s human rights expert on Haiti, who warned that the situation is worse than ever.
“These violent criminal groups continue to extend and consolidate their hold even beyond the capital,” O’Neill said. “They kill, rape, terrorize, and burn homes, orphanages, schools, hospitals, and places of worship.”
O’Neill emphasized the urgent need to strengthen Haiti’s police force, which has just 9,000–10,000 officers for a country of 11 million people. In contrast, the neighboring Dominican Republic, with a similar population, has a police force of 50,000.
He also called for the reinforcement of the Kenya-led multinational security mission, which deployed 1,000 officers in June. According to O’Neill, a well-equipped force of 2,500 personnel could effectively dismantle and overpower the gangs terrorizing the country.
US Extends Flight Ban Amid Violence
Amid escalating violence, the United States extended its ban on flights to Haiti’s capital until September 8, citing security concerns. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) initially imposed the ban in November after gangs opened fire on three commercial planes. It was set to expire Wednesday but has now been prolonged due to ongoing instability.
With gang violence worsening and humanitarian conditions deteriorating, Haiti’s crisis continues to deepen, leaving millions displaced and vulnerable in what experts call one of the most severe security crises in the region.
News
Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
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