Around 30,000 people have had to flee their homes in the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas following a new wave of violent attacks and atrocities perpetrated by armed gangs over the past ten days.

5.8 million Haitians, or roughly52 per cent of the population, are facing crisis levels of food insecurity, or worse. Of those, more than 1.8 million are dealing with emergency levels, which means they are exhausting their last assets and unable to meet even basic food needs.

Journalists working in Haiti are under constant threat of death or injury from rapidly expanding criminal gangs, as they continue to report news and information which they hope will help keep fellow citizens safe.

Much of the violence has been concentrated in Cit Soleil, an impoverished neighbourhood in the capital, where humanitarian workers are now seeking to provide life-saving assistance.

WFP/Odelyn Joseph

A burnt-out car is left on the street in a residential area of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, following armed clashes.

The Caribbean island nation continues to suffer from years of insecurity and deep-rooted poverty as well as a collapsing economy and political turmoil following a presidential assassination.

Heres what two women who fled the violence told the UN World Food Programme (WFP).

Anidette Saint Fleur, from Quartier Blanchard (Cit Soleil)

There was shooting everywhere. Then they set a fire very close by and we ran away with the whole family.

WFP/Sylvain Barral

Anidette Saint Fleur, fled from a neighbourhood attacked by gangs.

We didnt go back to our homes. The gangs are everywhere in the area. We only had time to leave with our ID documents. We havent gone back since.

I always keep a bag ready, just in case. When I hear heavy shooting, I grab my bag and flee with everyone.

I had just paid my rent and we had to flee. Now we have nothing no money, no roof and we dont know if or when well be able to return. Please help us.

Not having a roof to sleep under and food for the children is the hardest thing for us right now.

Dorlean Boudin, resident of Sarthe, Carrefour Vincent near Cit Soleil

There were men with machetes setting fire to houses with people inside. They burned, beheaded, shot, killed and if you had a shop, they looted everything.

WFP/Sylvain Barral

Dorlean Boudin, fled Sarthe, Carrefour Vincent near Cit Soleil.

The situation was already very difficult for me, I had very little money. I couldnt buy food because I had to save money in case of emergency, to flee. We stayed without eating so we could save for transport to escape.

I need to restart a small business to raise the children. I need help with food to feed them, and to buy water because we dont have any.

WFP has already reached 8,500 newly displaced people from Cit Soleil with emergency food assistance, while nine WFP-supported schools serving about 12,000 students have been forced to suspend meal distributions.

WFPs Janvier Muhima said people were being provided with food supplies including rice, pulses oil and fortified flour so they can feed themselves during this period of displacement.

WFP/Sylvain Barral

The UN's World Food Programme has delivered aid to affected communities.

Across the country, over 1.4 million people, more than 12 per cent of the population, have been forced to leave their homes, mainly due to criminal violence.

Port-au-Prince has become the epicentre of violence, with up to 90 per cent of the city believed to be under the control of gangs.

The recruitment of children has reportedly surged, with some estimates indicating that children now comprise 3050 per cent of some gangs.