Scores of people were seen attempting to cross Haiti’s longest river yesterday to escape escalating gang violence in the country .

A video on social media showed people balancing their belongings on their head as they crossed the Artibonite River.

According to an AP News report, gunmen first attacked Petite Rivière on April 24th and seized full control of the town’s northern region.

A United Nations report said that to date, more than 1600 people have been killed in gun violence since the start of this year.