A United Nations helicopter was struck by gunfire, and two gangs reportedly targeted vehicles from the US Embassy.

Security sources revealed to CNN that armored vehicles belonging to the US Embassy were attacked by the infamous criminal groups "400 Mawozo" and "Chen Mechan." Fortunately, there were no injuries, though it appears the embassy vehicles were deliberately targeted. In response to the mounting danger, embassy officials have begun the process of evacuating up to 20 non-essential diplomatic staff from the city.

The violence reached a new level on Thursday when a humanitarian helicopter used by the UN's World Food Programme (WFP) sustained heavy gunfire while airborne over Port-au-Prince. The helicopter, clearly marked with UN insignia and carrying 18 people, managed to land safely despite multiple bullet holes in its fuselage and rotor system. No injuries were reported, but the incident has compelled the WFP to cancel its scheduled flights on Friday.

This is not an isolated incident for the WFP; a stray bullet hit one of their helicopters last July while it was parked at Toussaint Louverture airport in Port-au-Prince. The latest attack is likely to have broader implications, with expectations that major US airlines may once again halt their operations in Port-au-Prince. Such a suspension had previously occurred last March following a spike in gang violence, lasting nearly three months and affecting carriers like Spirit, JetBlue, and American Airlines.

Gang violence in Haiti has escalated dramatically in recent years. In 2023 alone, the UN reports that 3,661 people have been killed. The violence has rendered many roads impassable and left nearly 700,000 Haitians homeless. Earlier this month, a brutal gang attack in central Haiti resulted in the deaths of at least 70 people, including three infants, and displaced 6,000 more. The perpetrators, members of the "Gran Grif" gang, used automatic rifles to carry out the massacre.

As the situation deteriorates, the safety of residents and international workers in Port-au-Prince remains in jeopardy, highlighting the urgent need for international attention and intervention.