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The US embassy in Haiti is moving forward with evacuating some of its non-essential staff due to an uptick in gang violence in Port-au-Prince.
Let’s bring you up to speed: Following the assassination of Haiti’s last President, Jovenel Moïse, Haiti has been rocked by an uprising of gangs that have taken over large swaths of territory in the country’s capital, Port-au-Prince. Some of these gangs have formed alliances in an effort to overthrow the government. In addition to taking over territory, the gangs have aimed to take over key critical infrastructure, resulting in food and fuel shortages in some areas of the country. This led to the establishment of a multinational security force, primarily led by military personnel from Kenya, seeking to help the Haitian government restore order in the country.

What’s going on now: Earlier this week, staff from the US embassy were targeted by gangs in an attack involving embassy vehicles in Port-au-Prince. One vehicle sustained damage when its windshield was shattered by gunfire, while another, belonging to the chief of mission, was not struck. According to a security source cited by CNN, both the ‘400 Mawozo’ gang and the ‘Chen Mechan’ gang were involved in the attack.

Though no injuries were reported, these attacks have resulted in the US government moving forward with evacuating some staff. According to various outlets, the evacuations are set to begin in the next two days. At the moment, the State Department has not confirmed the reporting.
Another attack: In addition to the recent attack on US embassy staff, a United Nations helicopter carrying 18 people was targeted on Thursday. According to the UN, the helicopter was fired upon while flying over a gang-controlled area of Port-au-Prince. Seven shots reportedly hit the aircraft, forcing it to make an emergency landing in the city. While there were no injuries, this has resulted in the UN scaling back some of its humanitarian operations.