PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (CMC)—For millions of Haitians, daily life has become a struggle to stay safe, find enough food and simply move around their own neighbourhood.

Powerful armed gangs control large parts of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and continue expanding into other parts of the country. Families are fleeing their homes in record numbers, schools and health centres have closed, and humanitarian agencies are struggling to meet soaring needs as funding runs dangerously low.

Over the last weekend, the Northern Department Police (DDN) said that for the period June 1 to July 17, several gang members were fatally wounded during exchanges of fire with the police, and a quantity of firearms seized.

The police said on July 15, in the Latanbri area, a locality in the Morin neighbourhood, gang leader Peterson Belony and his right-hand man, known as “Dejwe” were fatally wounded. They said during the period June 27 – 28, in the commune of Limonade, gang leader Alland Gérôme, alias “Jhon” was fatally wounded.

In addition, 391 people were arrested. Murder, attempted murder, robbery, rape, illegal possession of firearms, kidnapping, unlawful confinement, criminal conspiracy, and breach of trust are the main charges, the police added.

Meanwhile, three new Haitian criminal groups have been added to the UN blacklist. They are Gran Grif, Kraze Baryè, and 400 Mawozo.

According to the UN website, as of Monday, the humanitarian crisis continues to deepen as violence, displacement and economic hardship reinforce one another.

It said more than half the country’s population of around 11 million now needs relief aid.

Around 6.4 million people need humanitarian assistance with 3.3 million prioritized for support.

1.47 million people have fled their homes largely due to violence and more than 5.8 million people are expected to go hungry this year.

The UN said violence continues to disrupt healthcare, clean water supplies and education, while aid organisations are trying to keep hospitals, nutrition programmes and emergency shelters operating despite shrinking resources.

The 2026 humanitarian appeal is critically underfunded. By mid-June, only 25 per cent of the required US$880 million had been received, limiting life-saving operations.

It noted that Haiti has not had an elected president since the murder of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, due to long-term instability and insecurity and that restoring democratic government remains one of the country’s biggest challenges, but credible voting cannot take place unless security improves significantly.

“Armed gangs continue to control many neighbourhoods and major roads, making it difficult to register voters, move election materials and guarantee public safety,” according to the UN website.

It said even so, preparations have accelerated in recent months and with a US$120 million election budget agreed it is hoped that the first round of voting can be held before the end of 2026, allowing an elected president to take office in February 2027.

The UN said violence by heavily armed gangs concentrated largely in Port-au-Prince remains the single biggest obstacle to Haiti’s recovery and that competition between rival criminal groups over territory and extortion has fuelled increasingly brutal fighting.

The consequences for ordinary Haitians are devastating.

In one major outbreak of violence around the Cité Soleil neighbourhood of Port-au-Prince, earlier this year, at least 542 people were killed and 355 injured. During those clashes at least 176 women and girls were raped.

Children are also increasingly caught up in the crisis. Many have been forced to flee their homes, while others are being recruited by gangs or exposed to extreme violence.

The UN said that for the first time in many months, Haitian security forces have begun to record some tangible, if limited, successes against armed gangs.

“Specialised police units have pushed criminal groups out of several strategic locations in Port-au-Prince, reopening some major roads and allowing government institutions to return to parts of the city centre.

“A major new development has been the launch of the Gang Suppression Force, a UN-backed international security operation established to help Haiti regain control of areas dominated by criminal groups.”

Meanwhile, two specialised judicial units have begun operating to investigate mass crimes, sexual violence and major financial crimes.

But the UN notes that despite these recent operations, gangs remain capable of launching deadly attacks, extorting communities and disrupting everyday life.

“Egregious human rights violations continue across Haiti. Armed gangs are responsible for killings, kidnappings, rape and the forced displacement of entire communities. Sexual violence is increasingly being used to terrorise neighbourhoods under gang control.”

The UN said that Haiti’s political, security and humanitarian crises are all connected. It will be hard to hold elections without better security. Security gains will be difficult to sustain without stronger governance.

“And none of it will work if millions of people are still struggling with hunger, displacement and violence.”