In Port-au-Prince, Haiti, approximately 100 individuals attempted to push through a metallic fence while a security guard threatened to strike them with a club. Despite the efforts to block their entrance, people of all ages, including those holding infants, persisted in elbowing their way through.

“Allow us to enter! We are feeling hungry!” they exclaimed one afternoon.

The individuals attempted to enter a temporary refuge located in a deserted school. Staff members scooped soup from buckets and filled Styrofoam containers with rice, which they then gave to Haitians who have been displaced due to gang violence.

Aid organizations report that approximately 1.4 million Haitians are at risk of starvation, with more than 4 million in need of food assistance. In some cases, these individuals are only able to eat a single meal per day, or go without food entirely.

“Haiti is facing a protractive and mass hunger,” Jean-Martin Bauer, Haiti director for the United Nations’ World Food Program, told The Associated Press. He noted that Croix-des-Bouquets, in the eastern part of Haiti’s capital, “has malnutrition rates comparable with any war zone in the world.”

Authorities are attempting to quickly deliver essential resources, such as food, water, and medical supplies, to makeshift shelters and various locations, in response to the suffocating impact of gang violence on individuals throughout Port-au-Prince and neighboring areas. This has resulted in many people being unable to leave their homes.

Since February 29th, violence from gangs has disrupted operations for many aid organizations. This includes attacks on important institutions, setting fire to police stations, and taking over two prisons to release over 4,000 prisoners. As of now, only a small number of organizations have been able to resume their work.

The prevalence of violence has prompted Prime Minister Ariel Henry to declare his intent to step down upon the formation of a transitional council on Tuesday. However, gangs demanding his removal have persisted in carrying out attacks in various communities.

According to Bauer and other officials, gangs are obstructing delivery routes and causing disruption at the main port. This has resulted in the depletion of WFP’s stock of grains, beans, and vegetable oil as they strive to provide meals.

According to Bauer, we have enough supplies to last for weeks, not months, and this thought terrifies me.

In the temporary shelter set up at the school, there was a sense of organization as many individuals waited in queues for food. A total of 3,700 people residing in the shelter vie for a spot to rest and utilize a communal hole as a makeshift restroom.

Marie Lourdes Geneus, a 45-year-old mother of seven and street vendor, shared that her family was forced to leave three homes due to threats from gangs, ultimately leading them to seek shelter.

She stated, “Many people around me appear desperate, just like myself. We once had a life, but have now lost it.” Reflecting on her current circumstances, she expressed, “The life I am living is dreadful. Despite my efforts in life, here I am, struggling to make it by.”

She mentioned that she sometimes goes out to sell beans in order to buy extra food for her children who often only have one meal a day. However, she is often chased by armed individuals and ends up dropping her goods while running away.

54-year-old Erigeunes Jeffrand stated that he previously supported his family by selling up to four cart-loads of sugar cane per day, however, due to threats from gangs, he and his four children were forced to flee their community.

He expressed, “My residence was completely devastated and looted. They seized all of my possessions. And currently, they are not permitting me to work.”

The man sent his two youngest kids to stay with family in a calmer rural area of Haiti, while his two older children reside with him at the shelter.

He expressed disbelief at the fact that he used to have a home and managed to sustain himself. However, he is now relying on the kindness of others for food, and he does not consider this to be living.

Over 200 gangs are estimated to be present in Haiti, with roughly 20 of them centered in and around Port-au-Prince. These groups currently hold dominion over 80% of the city and are competing for additional land.

Numerous individuals have lost their lives in the latest assault, and over 15,000 are now displaced.

The current conditions have hindered organizations such as Food for the Hungry from carrying out their work during a crucial time when their assistance is crucial.

Our Haiti director, Boby Sander, stated that our organization is currently facing a dire situation where we do not have any funds or resources to transport the items stored in our warehouse. He described it as a catastrophic situation.

Food for the Hungry runs a program that uses cash to support approximately 25,000 families annually. However, he stated that the continuous looting and bank attacks have severely hindered the system.

“According to him, there has been no progress since February 29th.”

One morning, the smell of rice being cooked attracted a crowd of adults and teenage boys to a sidewalk near a building where aid workers were making meals to give to shelters in other parts of the city.

“Could you assist me in obtaining a serving of food? We have not had any nourishment today,” they inquired from individuals entering and exiting the premise. However, their requests were ignored as the food was intended for the school shelter.

Jean Emmanuel Joseph, head of food distribution at the Center for Peasant Organization and Community Action, expressed disappointment at the small amount available to distribute and regretted not being able to provide more.

Some of the adults and children at the shelter attempted to return to the end of the line for a second helping.

“You have already taken a plate,” they were informed. “Allow others to take one.”

Jethro Antoine, a resident at the shelter who is 55 years old, stated that the food is intended solely for residents. However, there is limited action that can be taken against non-residents who manage to access it.

He stated that if you express your discontent, you risk becoming an adversary and potentially facing fatal consequences.

The United States Agency for International Development announced that approximately 5.5 million individuals in Haiti, which is almost 50% of the country’s population, require humanitarian assistance. They have promised an additional $25 million, on top of the $33 million previously allocated earlier in the week.

According to Bauer from the WFP, the request for humanitarian aid for Haiti this year has only been met with less than 3% of the necessary funds. The U.N. agency requires $95 million within the next six months.

“He expressed concerns about the intertwined issues of conflict and hunger in Haiti, fearing for the direction they are heading towards.”

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Reporter Dánica Coto gives coverage from San Juan, Puerto Rico.