Several small and medium-sized businesses are beginning to reopen in the lower Delmas area.
Several small and medium-sized businesses are beginning to reopen in the lower Delmas area. On the sidewalks, vendors are gradually setting up their stalls again, while passersby are becoming increasingly numerous. In this area, long paralyzed, life is returning—but with caution.
Just a few months ago, traffic on the Delmas highway hardly went beyond Delmas 31. Going down toward the lower areas involved significant risk due to clashes between law enforcement and armed groups. Residents had deserted the area, and commercial activity there was almost impossible.
This Friday, April 17, 2026, the picture is changing. From Delmas 31 to the airport intersection, economic activities are gradually resuming. Some large businesses are once again receiving customers. Vehicle movement is observed in front of Sogebank, under the watch of security agents, while tap-taps providing public transportation are once again crossing the airport intersection.
The Delmas 30 shortcut has become accessible again for drivers heading toward Poste-Marchand. Users are taking the route with greater peace of mind, far from the constant fear of stray bullets that previously prevailed. The gates of the Office national d’assurance vieillesse (ONA) are open, even if services have not yet been restored.
A security presence nevertheless remains visible, particularly around the overpass where an armored vehicle of the Police nationale d’Haïti (PNH) is stationed. Officers are also deployed at the sub-police station, which has been reopened for about two months.
Despite these encouraging signs, the recovery remains incomplete. No vendors were observed at the airport intersection, unlike in previous weeks. According to a local resident, some traders were reportedly forced to leave under pressure from municipal authorities. “Without the vendors, the intersection remains empty—they are the ones who bring it to life,” he laments.
Overall, traffic remains moderate. Few vehicles are heading toward Nazon, and the area around the overpass remains sparsely frequented. Cars bound for Bon-Repos are still waiting for passengers.
While the situation has clearly improved compared to previous months, lower Delmas remains marked by a gradual and fragile recovery, dependent on the continued maintenance of security conditions.
