Haiti Gang Attack Leaves at Least 70 Dead and 30 Injured

Haiti Attack Leaves at Least 70 Dead, 30 Injured in Rural Community

A human rights group has reported that at least 70 people have been killed and 30 injured during an attack near Petite-Riviere in Haiti’s Artibonite region. The Defenseurs Plus rights group stated that the death toll significantly exceeds official estimates of 16.

According to local media, the attack began on Sunday morning in rural communities around Jean-Denis and continued into Monday morning. Gang members stormed the area, setting homes on fire. Residents and officials reported that the violence was widespread, with an estimated 6,000 people displaced by the violence.

The United Nations has also reported that more than 2,000 people had left their homes in the days leading up to the attack, following raids by armed gangs nearby. Police initially reported 16 dead and 10 injured, but a preliminary report from civil protection authorities stated 17 had died and 19 were wounded.

A spokesperson for the UN secretary-general confirmed that the organization’s office in Haiti was monitoring the events and provided estimates ranging from 10 to 80 people killed. The spokesperson called for a thorough investigation into the incident.

The Artibonite region, a key agricultural area, has seen significant violence in recent years. Gang conflict has extended beyond the capital, Port-au-Prince, despite increased policing efforts and foreign support for Haiti’s security forces.

The injured were taken to a local hospital, while the dead were taken to two morgues. Police launched an operation to track down the gang members who fled the area. The attack marks the latest in a series of massacres in the region, largely attributed to Gran Grif.

In recent months, the US has offered a reward of up to $3m for information on Gran Grif’s financial activities. The group has been designated as a “terrorist” organization by the United States and has been accused of various crimes, including mass killings, gang rapes, arson, theft, and trafficking guns, drugs, and organs.

The attack is part of a larger conflict that has displaced over 1.4 million people in Haiti, worsening an economic crisis and access to food.

Source: Al Jazeera