Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide has vowed to serve out his term in office, despite days of unrest aimed at forcing him to resign. "I will leave the palace 7 February, 2006," President Aristide told reporters at a news conference. On Wednesday three more people were killed in the city of Saint Marc, bringing the death toll to 47 during the recent violence on the island. Meanwhile, a UN team is investigating the deteriorating situation in Haiti. The BBC's Susannah Price, at the United Nations, says the team is examining critical areas such as health, education and food, to prepare a contingency plan in case humanitarian conditions worsen. The UN's World Food Programme said more than a quarter of a million people could go hungry in a "major humanitarian crisis" if blocked roads were not reopened. **US concern *** At least 47 people have died since the violence erupted in Gonaives, Haiti's fourth-largest city, last Thursday before spreading to other areas. The US says it is alarmed by the unrest and has called for human rights to be respected. "We are extremely concerned about the wave of violence sweeping through Haiti, and we certainly deeply regret the loss of life," said White House spokesman Scott McClellan. He said Washington supported diplomatic mediation efforts, fronted by the Caribbean regional grouping Caricom. As violence continued, three people were killed in Saint Marc by pro-Aristide militia, AP news agency quoted witnesses as saying. **'Retribution' *** Saint Marc is one of three cities which have been retaken by pro-government police from rebels, who claim to have captured more than a dozen towns and cities since the violence began. One militiaman said 20 houses belonging to government supporters had been burned down when rebels took the city, suggesting an element of retribution in the killings. Opposition groups are calling for the president's resignation, saying he stole the 2000 election which returned him to power. President Aristide has accused opposition political groups of fomenting the violence, but opposition parties have distanced themselves from it.