Gang attack in Haiti leaves 70 dead, including infants

Gang attack in Haiti leaves 70 dead, including infants

At least 70 people, including three infants, lost their lives in a gang attack in the central Haitian city of Pont Sondé, the United Nations Office for Human Rights reported in a statement on Friday.

Details of the attack

Members of the Gran Grif gang used automatic rifles to kill at least 70 people on Thursday, including 10 women and three infants, the UN said. The attack took place in the Artibonite department, a major agricultural center about 80 kilometers north of Port-au-Prince, where gang violence continues to rise, according to the United Nations.

Injuries and destruction

At least 16 people were seriously injured in the attack, including two gang members who were hit during a shootout with Haitian police. The gang members also set fire to at least 45 houses and 34 vehicles, forcing many residents to flee.

Reactions of the Haitian government

The Haitian Ministry of Health said it was mobilized to respond to the incident, but there were challenges accessing the scene due to the tense security situation. “Despite an extremely difficult security context, the victims of this attack are being cared for by local institutions,” the ministry said.

Haiti's Prime Minister Garry Conille expressed condolences to those affected by the attack and announced that law enforcement would step up their response.

An attack on the entire nation

“This heinous crime committed against defenseless women, men and children is an attack not only on these victims, but on the entire Haitian nation,” he added.

The role of the “Gran Grif” gang

Gran Grif is considered the most powerful gang in Artibonite, according to the UN. Last month, Luckson Elan, the gang's alleged leader, was sanctioned by the US for "serious human rights violations, including kidnapping, murder, abuse and rape of women and children."

Increase in gang violence

Gang violence in Haiti has increased in recent years, with attacks becoming more brazen and violent. According to the UN reports, at least 3,661 people have been killed since January this year.

International support

In June, foreign security forces arrived in Haiti to provide security and restore law and order in the Caribbean country as part of the Multinational Security Assistance Mission (MSS).

demands of the UN

In the wake of Thursday's attack, the UN called for additional financial and logistical assistance to the MSS, as well as a "swift and thorough investigation" into the attack and "compensation for the victims and their families."

“To those who sow terror, I say this: you will not break our will,” said Haitian Prime Minister Conille. "You will not subjugate this people who have always fought for their dignity and freedom. We will never renounce our right to live in peace, security and justice."