Haiti capital largely closed, 15,000 displaced by violence

A pedestrian walks past the international airport in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, March 4, 2024. [AP photo]

The U.N. says surging violence in Haiti over the last several days has driven nearly 15,000 people from their homes in the capital, Port-au-Prince, 80 per cent of which are controlled by armed gangs.

Reports from the capital say it is largely shut down, with residents only venturing out for essentials after the Haitian government declared a 72-hour state of emergency late Sunday.