Port-au-Prince, Haiti—Five people died Wednesday during a targeted attack in a residential neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning when armed individuals entered the area and opened fire on a group of residents. The assailants fled the scene immediately after the attack, disappearing into the maze of narrow streets.

Neighbors reported hearing sustained gunfire that lasted for several minutes, causing mass panic throughout the community. When the shooting stopped, five bodies were found lying in the middle of the street. Police were unable to respond until hours later due to the high level of insecurity and the threat of further ambushes.

This neighborhood has been the site of frequent clashes between rival groups struggling for control of the capital. The attack is being described by local analysts as a calculated act of violence intended to intimidate the local population. No specific group has claimed responsibility, though residents believe it was a reprisal for a dispute earlier in the week.

Public safety in Port-au-Prince has hit a new low, with more than 90 percent of the city now estimated to be under the influence of various armed factions. Many civilians have abandoned their homes in fear of becoming collateral damage in the ongoing struggle. The humanitarian situation is rapidly deteriorating as food and medical supplies struggle to reach those in need.

Police forces in the capital remain severely under-equipped and often unable to intervene in areas controlled by these groups. Human rights organizations have criticized the government for its failure to provide even basic protection for citizens. Calls for an international intervention have been a constant theme, though the response from global partners has remained inconsistent.

The victims’ families are now faced with the impossible task of arranging burials in an environment where even public spaces are considered dangerous. Many are expected to leave the capital in search of safety in the rural provinces. The cycle of violence appears to have no immediate end in sight as the power vacuum in the capital deepens.

Authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding the identities of the attackers. The investigation into the incident will likely remain stagnant given the current paralysis of the judicial system. For the people of this neighborhood, today was another dark chapter in a year defined by constant threat.