Recent reports from the United Nations reveal that over 53,000 individuals have fled Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital, in less than three weeks, with the primary motivation being to escape the escalating gang violence plaguing the city. The exodus, which began following a series of attacks by powerful gangs on government institutions, has left more than 1,500 people dead and another 17,000 homeless as of March 22.
The majority of those fleeing, approximately 60%, are heading towards Haiti's rural southern region. However, concerns have been raised by U.N. officials regarding the region's limited infrastructure and resources to accommodate the influx of displaced individuals. The southern region already hosts over 116,000 Haitians who had previously left Port-au-Prince.
