Haiti, chaos in the country. Mob attack, Prime Minister found

A new wave of violence erupted in Haiti this week. The country has long been plagued by brutal gang activity. Gang leader and ex-policeman Jimmy Ceresier – known as “Barbecue” – has openly said he wants to overthrow Prime Minister Ariel Henry and his interim government.

He inspires fear even though he thinks he is Robin Hood. Who is “Barbecue”? >>

The fighting, mainly in the country's capital, has forced more than 15,000 people to flee their homes, according to the UN migration office. This intensified the menace of poverty and lawlessness in the society.

– Armed mobs forced us out of our homes. They destroyed our houses, we are on the streets – complained Nicholas, a resident of the camp, sleeping in such conditions – as he said – he feels like an animal.

– I didn't even have time to take underwear with me, says Jasmin, who stayed at the shelter on Tuesday. “I don't know what to do,” he added.

Also Read: Dead bodies on streets, gangs take over. Terrible UN report on Haiti

Renault Saint-Paul, who lives in the Lalu district of Port-au-Prince, appeared at the shelter. He said he was searching for water which was becoming scarce in the capital.

Serge Dalexis of the International Rescue Committee, who is currently in Haiti, said access to basic services such as health care, food and water has become increasingly difficult. – Port-au-Prince is not everything at the moment, he stressed.

Most of the capital's residents stayed at home on Monday, according to the AFP news agency. Some went outside for water or food.

The situation escalated before the weekend. Prime Minister Ariel Henry then traveled to Kenya and signed an agreement to deploy international forces to Haiti to help restore order as part of a UN-backed security mission.

Meanwhile, violent clashes erupted between gangs and government services in the capital. Self-proclaimed vigilante members also joined the fray. Panic broke out, with thousands of people fleeing their homes in the city center on foot or by public transport. Footage from Port-au-Prince on Friday showed bodies lying in the streets and burned vehicles.

On Saturday, mobs attacked several police stations and stormed the capital's jail, from which hundreds of inmates escaped.

On Sunday, the government declared a 72-hour state of emergency. The streets of the city have been under intense fire for days, Reuters wrote. He also said earlier that it is not known where the Prime Minister is currently staying or when he will return to the country. However, on Tuesday evening, the agency reported, citing anonymous sources, that Henry had landed in Puerto Rico, so he was closer to his home country.

On Tuesday, mobs tried to take over Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince. There was a clash with soldiers sent on patrol on Monday. According to media reports, security forces foiled an attempt by armed attackers to enter the airport through a hole in the wall of one of the buildings.

According to a BBC report, the gangs want to prevent the Prime Minister from returning to the country.

Haitian newspaper Le Nouvelliste reported that international and domestic commercial flights have been grounded in recent days due to the violence. Also, no private aircraft lands or takes off from the airport, the newspaper added.