Violence has reignited in the country following a lull in the first weeks after a Kenyan-led, U.N.-backed multinational security force arrived in July.

The top U.N. official in Haiti says gangs have escalated their violence and expanded operations outside the capital, even attacking small boats and kidnapping personnel from cargo shipping companies

Despite an international support mission to help Haiti's beleaguered police forces, the UN warns that gang activity is escalating out of control, including kidnappings of personnel from cargo shipping companies.