The U.S. Embassy in Haiti on Wednesday urged citizens in the Caribbean country to leave "as soon as possible" citing security and infrastructure challenges, as escalating violence has left thousands displaced and sent homicides soaring.

The U.S. Embassy in Haiti on Wednesday urged citizens in the Caribbean country to leave “as soon as possible” citing security and infrastructure challenges, as escalating violence has left thousands displaced and sent homicides soaring.

“U.S. citizens in Haiti should depart Haiti as soon as possible via commercial or private transport,” the embassy said in a statement, urging extreme caution.

An escalating gang turf war in Haiti has caused a devastating humanitarian crisis that has displaced around 200,000 nationwide and left some 5.2 million people - nearly half of Haiti’s population – in need of humanitarian aid, according to the United Nations.