As violence surges in Haiti following a massive jailbreak orchestrated by armed men and a call for the removal of Prime Minister Ariel Henry,

As violence surges in Haiti following a massive jailbreak orchestrated by armed men and a call for the removal of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, neighboring countries are taking precautions and bolstering their defenses. Amid the chaos, thousands of people are fleeing the escalating conflict.

Haiti's de facto government has declared a 72-hour state of emergency and imposed nightly curfews in response to the crisis. The Dominican Republic, sharing the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, is reinforcing its border defenses and ruling out the establishment of refugee camps for fleeing Haitians. The United States is urging its citizens to leave Haiti immediately, while Brazil calls for international intervention through a U.N. multinational force, recalling its previous leadership role in a U.N. peace mission to Haiti.

Bahamas and Mexico are taking measures to protect their citizens and limit non-essential transit, while gangs in Haiti are warning residents to keep children indoors. Despite the violence, Haitian authorities insist on keeping schools open.

The humanitarian situation is dire, with thousands fleeing gunfire and displacement from makeshift camps. Aid organizations are forced to halt operations due to the insecurity, and the Organization of American States calls for a swift international response in coordination with the U.N.

While plans for an international force to assist Haitian police in restoring security have been ratified, deployment delays persist. Only a few nations have formally pledged troops, and funding remains insufficient. In the meantime, Haiti's national police force struggles against well-armed gangs, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

As the situation deteriorates, urgent action is needed to provide humanitarian aid and restore stability to Haiti, where civilians continue to suffer amid the ongoing violence and insecurity.