Port-au-Prince, Haiti – Violence and chaos grip the streets of Haiti’s capital city as armed gangs wield control over more than 80 percent of the urban landscape. The putrid smell of decaying corpses fills the air, a grim reminder of the relentless brutality plaguing this Caribbean nation of 11 million people. Residents, in a state of despair and abandonment, confront a harrowing reality where the dead lie unattended, bodies burned and left in the open with no one to claim them.
The escalation of violence culminated in a series of prison breakouts freeing thousands of inmates, unleashing a wave of terror as gangs set their sights on key infrastructures such as the airport and main port. The city remains in a state of siege, with hospitals shuttered, police stations torched, and security forces scarce. The prime minister, absent amidst the turmoil, seeks international support for a police force intervention, stranded abroad and unable to return to his embattled nation.
The dire situation has forced mortuary workers such as Lyonel Milfort to refuse calls to collect bodies as gang blockades prevent safe passage. The lack of essential services, combined with unfathomable levels of violence, paints a picture of a city in freefall, left to fend for itself amid the chaos. The absence of a functioning government, coupled with the unchecked power of armed gangs, leaves citizens to grapple with the aftermath of a society in disarray.
As the crisis deepens, calls for political leadership intensify, with demands for the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry echoing through the ravaged streets. The void left by the assassination of former President Jovenel Moïse and a dormant National Assembly has plunged the nation into a power vacuum, with Henry facing mounting pressure to relinquish control. Amidst internal discord and external intervention efforts, Haiti teeters on the brink of collapse, its future hanging in the balance.
Despite the overwhelming challenges, ordinary Haitians like Jonathan Lindor show resilience as they navigate the chaos, bearing witness to unspeakable atrocities while grappling with the realities of their shattered homeland. Neighbors band together in vigilante groups to safeguard their communities, confronting the gruesome task of disposing of bodies left unattended on public streets. The struggle for survival in the face of adversity underscores a nation in crisis, fighting for its very existence amidst the wreckage of a failed state.