Masked individuals numbering in the thousands paraded through Haiti’s capital, concealing their identities as they voiced their demand for protection against the surge of violent gangs wreaking havoc in Port-au-Prince and surrounding regions.

The relentless gang violence has further plunged the nation into poverty, disrupting daily life and leaving citizens in distress.

The situation has prompted Haiti to anticipate a verdict from the U.N. Security Council on the potential dispatch of an international armed force. Chanting slogans like “We want security!”, the procession marched for approximately two hours, commencing from the troubled Carrefour-Feuilles community, proceeding through Champ de Mars downtown, and concluding at the prime minister’s official residence. The demonstration was eventually disbanded by law enforcement using tear gas.