Haiti: She worries whether her husband, Danielle Marie Carmel, will return home every night when he leaves home wearing his flak vest to fight Haiti's gangs. Riken Staniklas, his happy wife of 18 years, did not show up on Friday.
That morning, one of the country's roughly 200 gangs ambushed his police unit, sending gunfire echoing through the streets in an unexpected place: a mansion-lined section of the country's capital, Port-au-Prince.
Fighting in the oppressive Caribbean heat, police officers battle a gang led by Lionel Lazare as they desperately seek help. But help never arrived, according to the National Police Union. Three officers were killed in the fighting, a fourth was shot and hospitalized, and 44-year-old Staniklas went missing.
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Carmel, on the other hand, was scared for herself and her three children.
Carmel, 43, who was curled up on her red couch and surrounded by neighbors, said, "My husband was fighting with gangs a lot, and we don't know what could happen to us. Because I don't know What could happen to us, I am unable to sleep in the house now.
The shootout was the most recent example of how Haitian gangs have grown their influence and power while terrorizing a large segment of the population. While the United Nations estimates that gangs control 60% of Port-au-Prince, today most Haitians on the street believe the percentage is closer to 100%.
Haiti has long grappled with widespread gang violence, but following the assassination of former President Jovenel Mosse in 2021, the nation descended into chaos.
Political unrest and discontent with the current administration, led by Prime Minister Ariel Henry, has been used by powerful gangs to extend their control. Many were forced to flee their homes as the government was unable to quell the violence. Rape, kidnapping and police ambush are common news now.
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Friday's blitz in the Petion-Ville neighborhood was proof of that, according to Serge, director of the police unit that was attacked. Moving to affluent areas "benefit (the gang's) economic interests," he said. Such armed groups derive a significant portion of their wealth from kidnapping and ransom, up to $1 million.
Although armored vehicles and other supplies have been sent to Haiti by Canada and the United States, law enforcement officials claim the amount is far less than what is actually needed.
On Saturday, tensions were still high when Serge stood among a group of armored vehicles that had been fired upon. Officers in black masks and armed with automatic weapons roamed here and there.
A group of 50 officers were on their way back to the area where they fought Friday night, to break a gang blockade and search for missing officer Staniklas.
"I've lost three people... We're not scared. We're disappointed because we don't have enough equipment to fight," Serge said as he watched a convoy of police trucks from the station. "We need ammo, helmets, armored vehicles."
Analysts expect the bloodshed to worsen, especially after Haiti's last 10 elected officials ended their Senate terms in early January, leaving the parliament and presidency vacant as the government struggles to hold elections.
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People like Danielle Marie Carmel are experiencing a loss of hope for their nation. Carmel said her husband always wished she could contribute to the upkeep of her hometown. Together they built a home and a life. His 11-year-old son aspired to be like his father. She praised her husband by saying, "He loved people, and he loved helping people."
However, two years prior, the neighborhood violence had become so bad that he applied for a visa to emigrate to the United States in an effort to leave Haiti and join the mass exodus of people. He never heard back. She said, "I don't know if he is dead or alive, but I am worried. My husband would still be alive if we had been able to leave the country."