Key facts
- At least 30 people were killed in a gang attack in Kenscoff, near Haiti's capital.
- A human rights group, Defenseurs Plus, estimates 70 people were killed and 30 injured in a separate attack in the Artibonite region.
- Official reports initially stated 16 deaths and 10 injuries in the Artibonite attack.
- The Artibonite attack displaced approximately 6,000 people, according to activists.
- The gang Gran Grif is reportedly responsible for the violence in the Artibonite region.
At least 30 people were killed in a gang attack in Kenscoff, a neighborhood near Haiti's capital of Port-au-Prince, according to the town's mayor. The area has been a frequent target of gang violence in recent years, with rights groups reporting mass killings, rapes, arson, and kidnappings that have forced thousands to flee.
Separately, a human rights group, Defenseurs Plus, reported that at least 70 people were killed and 30 injured in an attack in the Artibonite region, Haiti's breadbasket. This figure significantly exceeds initial official estimates of 16 deaths and 10 injuries. The group stated that the "massacre" forced nearly 6,000 people to flee their homes, describing the situation as an "abdication of responsibility by the authorities."
Residents reported that the attack in the Artibonite region began early Sunday and continued into Monday, with gang members storming communities around Jean-Denis, setting homes on fire. The gang Gran Grif, which has been designated a "terrorist" organization by the United States, is believed to be responsible for the violence. The UN secretary-general's office is closely monitoring the events, with estimates of those killed ranging from 10 to 80.
Haiti's National Police stated that officers, supported by Kenyan police, attempted to rescue people in the Jean-Denis neighborhood but were delayed by gangs who had dug holes in the roads. Police reported that the armed group was fleeing when they arrived, and several houses were already burned. The UN has estimated that close to 20,000 people have been killed in Haiti since 2021, with the number of displaced people reaching over 1.4 million.