Pictures of the Year International

Gang members set up an improvised checkpoint to extort money from passing vehicles on the streets of Gressier, a suburban district of Port-au-Prince under their control, on July 7, 2024. With civilians displaced, the gangs enforce their rule over the area, demanding payments from vehicles crossing their territory. In Port-au-Prince, the broader population remains trapped in a constant state of fear: over 60% of schools are closed, hospitals are often inaccessible, and movement through the city risks exposure to shootings or kidnappings. With the judicial system nearly collapsed and an impunity rate nearing 99%, criminal groups maintain unchallenged control of the streets.