we should keep this stuff behind closed doors. "nightline" is next. thank you for watching, good night. [ cheers and applause ] >> byron: tonight, haiti. inside a nation on edge. a lawless land where gangs rule the streets. >> this is one of the most dangerous areas in all of haiti. stop filming, stop filming. >> byron: civilians fighting back, arming themselves with machetes. as children face starvation and women are targeted. and those willing to risk it all

to reach america's shores. >> at any given time, while the ship is in motion, there's up to 50 people sharing this space. remember this journey can last five days or more. >> this special edition of "nightline," "haiti: the forgotten crisis" will be right back. . unlike some others, neuriva plus is a multitasker supporting 6 key indicators of brain health. to help keep me sharp. neuriva: think bigger. (cat 1) friskies world! the purr-fect reminder that... life's more fun in the deep end. (cat 2) yeah! so never stop exploring... always keep it real... (cat 1) and do whatever floats your boat - just like we do. (vo) feed their fantasy. ♪friskies♪ finish 24 hour challenge. start by cooking a lasagna. skip the rinse and load your dishes. 24 hours later when your dishwasher is full, let finish quantum clean your dishes. if the stains aren't gone, your lasagna is on finish.

hi, can i help you? - maybe. i'd like to look at dolce & gabbana, versace, burberry, ray-ban, persol, oakley, costa, michael kors, coach and ralph lauren? ♪ regular or polarized? sunglass hut. find every shade of you. ♪

>> byron: good evening. thank you for joining us. haiti is a nation on edge, a place not far from the florida coast where people know heartache and where hope can be hard to find. now with bangs controlling the country and children going hungry, many are desperate simply to survive. abc's matt rivers visited haiti to shine a light on this forgotten crisis. >> reporter: in a nation paralyzed by devastation and violence, these are the sights and sounds of solace.

on the surface, it might look like this man, matiel, is a merchant of chaos, handing out machetes to civilians on the street. but there is so much more going on beneath the surface. matiel is a leader in haiti's wakali movement. civilians armed with weapons forming a phalanx of regular people, banding together to fight against the rampant gang violence here. it's an open call to arms. where every man, woman, and child is enlisted.

haiti is no stranger to crisis. but what we're seeing now, we've never seen before. the country's future plainly at risk. >> we now have breaking news. the of haiti has been assassinated by unknown assailants. >> there's been a dizzying array of headlines, twists and turns. >> port-au-prince could descend into chaos at any moment. >> reporter: not far from america's shores, rate now all of haiti is dancing on a razor's edge. this land is already one of the most bleak places on the planet, beset by centuries of foreign exploitation, corruption, and seemingly endless natural disasters despite billions of dollars in aid after haiti's devastating 2010 earthquake. the infrastructure remains

vulnerable to extreme weather. more than 50 people killed by flooding and another earthquake earlier this month. but no single recent event more consequential than the assassination of president jean maurice in july 2021. >> haiti is in deep trouble. haiti is not at risk of becoming a forgotten crisis, it is a forgotten crisis. >> reporter: no elections have been held since 2016, so right now there is not one elected official at any level of government -- no president, no legislature, no local mayors, nothing. and in that vacuum, it is the gangs that now rule. heavily armed, violent, determined to seize power, they control the roads, terrorize the people, openly waging war on the streets. >> people said, the gangs are coming, now it's time to run for your life. >> reporter: some estimates say they control between 80 and 90%

of the capital city. the united nations says from january to april, more civilians were killed in haiti than in ukraine. and this is where we are right now, driving through port-au-prince in an armored vehicle to a neighborhood. >> this is an area entirely controlled by armed groups. in fact, the only reason we can get in is because one of these gangs has given us permission to enter. but they've told us we're not allowed to film as we enter the neighborhood, because they don't want to show their enemies, as they call it, what they're doing. >> you're going to have to put down -- >> stop filming, stop filming. >> reporter: the violence gets so bad here, it cuts people off from the outside world. no food or water gets in, and no trash gets out. leading to a cholera outbreak last year. we arrive at a school with the u.n.'s world food program.

and their partner, local ngo hands together. they are, in so many ways, a critical lifeline to the hundreds of children here. there is a sobering reality in these tiny faces. the u.n. estimates nearly 5 million haitians, half the country, do not get enough food to eat. so a full plate of haitian rice and beans may be their only solid meal of the day. but even here, behind these stone walls and armed guards, the peace is so very fragile. evans brelo was born and raised in this town. he helps run the program here for the children. even the classrooms have been caught in the crossfire. so this is damage from a stray bullet that came in from the street? >> yes. >> you can see -- i mean, that's the violence. >> sometimes you find some bullets in your yard, in the classrooms.

>> it's terrifying. >> it is. >> reporter: michael francois is a student here, just 12 years old. gunfire an all too common occurrence at his home as well. it's a child's small wish for hope in a place where even the good can be deceiving. jeanisque says her husband was murdered by some in the blacaee movement. the same defenders she thought would protect them after he was accused of being a gang member.

the blayaee movement has been widely condemned for its extrajudicial killings. aid groups claim over 200 people have been killed. brutal images of bodies stoned and burning circulating online. 23-year-old joanisque left tending to her newborn, 12 days old, alone. a young mother's plea. weak but deafening. when we come back -- with the violence here reaching a boiling

point, some haitians will risk it all to escape. but the journey out is one of the most ruthless on earth. i have active psoriatic arthritis. but with skyrizi to treat my skin and joints, i'm feeling this moment. along with clearer skin skyrizi helps me move with less joint pain, stiffness, swelling, and fatigue. and is just 4 doses a year after 2 starter doses. serious allergic reactions and an increased risk of infections or a lower ability to fight them may occur. tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms, had a vaccine, or plan to. there's nothing like clearer skin and better movement-and that means everything! ask your doctor about skyrizi today. learn how abbvie could help you save. wow, look at these seats! they're great! yea...kinda thought i had the aisle, but... hot nuts! popcorn! bundle and save! hot nuts and popcorn and savings. just like bundling your home and car with geico. yeah in fact, hot nuts

-are like home insurance -i get it. the gecko explained it pretty clearly. -woah! -hey! i know you! yeah, hi. not you. the guy who helped me bundle my home and car. he's great! thanks mate, i appreciate it! he probably thought you were somebody else. okay... see how much you could save by bundling with geico. type 2 diabetes? discover the ozempic® tri-zone. okay... in my ozempic® tri-zone, i lowered my a1c, cv risk, and lost some weight. in studies, the majority of people reached an a1c under 7 and maintained it. ozempic® lowers the risk of major cardiovascular events such as stroke, heart attack, or death in adults also with known heart disease. and you may lose weight. adults lost up to 14 pounds. ozempic® isn't for people with type 1 diabetes. don't share needles or pens, or reuse needles. don't take ozempic® if you or your family ever had medullary thyroid cancer, or have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, or if allergic to it. stop ozempic® and get medical help right away if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, severe stomach pain, or an allergic reaction. serious side effects may include pancreatitis.

gallbladder problems may occur. tell your provider about vision problems or changes. taking ozempic® with a sulfonylurea or insulin may increase low blood sugar risk. side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may lead to dehydration, which may worsen kidney problems. join the millions already taking ozempic®. ask your health care provider about the ozempic® tri-zone. ♪ birds flyin' high, you know how i feel. ♪ ♪ breeze driftin' on... ♪ [coughing] ♪ ...by, you know how i feel. ♪ if you're tired of staring down your copd,... ♪ it's a new dawn, ♪ ♪ it's a new day... ♪ ...stop settling. ♪ ...and i'm feelin' good. ♪ start a new day with trelegy. no once-daily copd medicine has the power to treat copd in as many ways as trelegy. with three medicines in one inhaler,

trelegy makes breathing easier for a full 24 hours, improves lung function, and helps prevent future flare-ups. trelegy won't replace a rescue inhaler for sudden breathing problems. tell your doctor if you have a heart condition or high blood pressure before taking it. do not take trelegy more than prescribed. trelegy may increase your risk of thrush, pneumonia, and osteoporosis. call your doctor if worsened breathing, chest pain, mouth or tongue swelling, problems urinating, vision changes, or eye pain occur. take a stand, and start a new day with trelegy. ask your doctor about once-daily trelegy, and save at trelegy.com

haiti draws its names from its tino roots. "mountain nance land." the french called it the pearl of the antilles. one look from above, it's easy to see why.

a lush landscape, pristine waters across every corner of this country. look closer and haiti's perils are easy to spot. highway 1 is the only road between haiti's capital and gonieve, the country's breadbasket. it's under gang control, a strip of death for anyone who dares to cross it, forcing aid groups to fly resources over what should be just a few hours' drive. this place is not immune to the violence we've seen in the capital. the violence that is happening right here is affecting the rest of the country's ability to get food. the drive into the countryside is bumpy, but beautiful. with each breath comes the sweet smell of a national treasure. the mango. a deep source of pride and income for so many haitians. the country produces more than

100 different kinds, which they call the best in the world. except because of the violence and the impassable roads, nobody can get them. not haitians, not americans. millions lost in exports. in a country where so many don't get enough to eat, life-saving calories rot on the ground, nurturing flies instead of the people. the eruption of gang violence has also brought with it the threat of murder and kidnapping. go to the market, risk your

life. in haiti, women who buy and sell produce are known as madon serah, the backbone for food distribution throughout the country. but for these women, every day comes with a mortal risk. with the violence shutting down roads, harming workers, and threatening markets, the u.n.'s world food program is trying to help. >> farmers can't bring their

goods to market or the companies that are buying those goods can't get here or both? >> it's both. >> reporter: country director jean-martin bauer helping set up a small market where they buy produce directly from farmers. even though this market looks incredibly busy, it's not as busy as it used to be? >> no, some of the larger shops here have become shuttered, closed entirely because it's too dangerous to operate in this context. >> reporter: what's happening here might drive migration to the united states? >> it absolutely could. haitian agriculture has been undermined for decades. but a year like this, when farmers don't have a chance, it's been dry. you've got insecurity. prices are up. why would you try? how could you stay here? you have to take care of your family, feed your family. >> reporter: even in the darkest of days, there's no force on earth more powerful than a mother's love. that fact evident in this port-au-prince hospital where so many moms come in desperate,

simply trying to feed their kids. paulette marashelle has six children with high hopes. but her dreams for their futures, overshadowed by the crisis of the moment. her 4-year-old son is suffering. >> a nurse just weighed him using this scale. he was about 9 kilos, roughly 20 pounds. he's 4 years old. my son is just shy of 10 months old. they weigh the exact same. giving marvins a fighting chance may mean making the most excruciating decision a mother can make. she's considering putting him up for adoption.

trapped in a humanitarian crisis, exits are few and far between. sti still, some are determined to forge new paths. coming north to another city and sailing to turtle island, where there's a history of smuggling going back centuries. jeanette and her friend kaisha have been living in this hut on the island. no power or running water. everything they own packed into these small bags. their dreams taking them far away from here.

so many have come here for a chance to illegally cross to the u.s. by boat, creating an industry of sorts. smugglers charging high prices, $3,000 each, for a chance at a perilous voyage on a rickety boat. still, an upgrade, some say, to the horrors they faced at home.

haitian migrants are trying to enter the u.s. at a crushing pace. more than 86,000 encountered by authorities since october. success far from guaranteed on the open seas. jacques lin, not his real name, has been sailing back and forth to the u.s. almost a decade. his passengers crammed, both on top of and inside this 20-foot-long vessel. so here below deck, it is incredibly hot. it is very uncomfortable. and if i move to the back here and show you just how cramped this space is -- the captain tells us that at any given time while the ship is in motion, there's up to 50 people sharing this space, sitting more or less like this. remember, this journey can last five days or more.

many on board have never been on boats before, and the treatment for those who break down, physically or mentally, is rudimentary and brutal. but jack won't depart until he has a full boat, leaving jeanette and kaisha stranded with few options put to wait. it's likely they won't have to wait much longer for fellow migrants. haiti's problems are myriad. its solutions elusive. so for now, the only sure thing is that more people will try to leave.

my most important kitchen tool? my brain. so i choose neuriva plus. unlike some others, neuriva plus is a multitasker supporting 6 key indicators of brain health. to help keep me sharp. neuriva: think bigger. i have moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. thanks to skyrizi, i'm on my way with clearer skin. 3 out of 4 people achieved 90% clearer skin at 4 months. and skyrizi is just 4 doses a year after 2 starter doses. serious allergic reactions and an increased risk of infections or a lower ability to fight them may occur. tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms, had a vaccine, or plan to. nothing on my skin means everything! ♪ nothing is everything ♪ ask your dermatologist about skyrizi. learn how abbvie could help you save. my most important kitchen tool? my brain. so i choose neuriva plus. unlike some others, neuriva plus is a multitasker supporting 6 key indicators of brain health. to help keep me sharp.

neuriva: think bigger.

ride it out with the tradeoffs of treating? or push through the pain and symptoms? with ubrelvy, there's another option. one dose works fast to eliminate migraine pain. treat it anytime, anywhere without worrying where you are or if it's too late. do not take with strong cyp3a4 inhibitors. allergic reactions to ubrelvy can happen. most common side effects were nausea and sleepiness. migraine pain relief starts with u. ask about ubrelvy. learn how abbvie could help you save. is a new title really necessary? sir, after bestowing the gift of renting ease to millions, a bump is in order. okay, let's see. master of the rentalsphere. wow! oh, is it too much? apartments.com the place to find a place. hey, it's me...your skin. some cleansers get us clean - but take my moisture. cerave cleansers help me maintain my moisture balance with hyaluronic acid, plus 3 essential ceramides to help restore my natural barrier. so we're cerave clean. cerave hydrating cleanser.

diabetes can serve up a lot of questions, like, "what is your glucose?" and "can you have more carbs?" before you decide... with the freestyle libre 2 system know your glucose level and where it's headed. no fingersticks needed. manage your diabetes with more confidence. and lower your a1c. the number one doctor prescribed cgm. freestyle libre 2. try it for free at freestylelibre.us

♪ >> byron: finally tonight, our thanks to matt and his team. if you'd like to help the world food program humanitarian relief efforts in haiti, pusa.orgbchaiti. that's "nightline" for this evening. thanks for the company, america. good night.