Gangs lay siege to neighbourhoods in fresh outbreak of violence in Haiti

Residents walk past a burnt car blocking the street as they evacuate the Delmas 22 neighbourhood in Port-au-Prince (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

Danica Coto

Gangs in Haiti laid siege to several neighbourhoods in Port-au-Prince, burning homes and exchanging gunfire with police for hours as hundreds fled the violence early on Thursday in one of the biggest attacks since Haiti’s new prime minister was announced.

The attacks began late on Wednesday in neighbourhoods including Solino and Delmas 18, 20 and 24 located south-west of the main international airport, which has remained closed for nearly two months amid relentless gang violence.