Nearly 6,300 people have been forced to flee their homes in central Haiti following a violent gang attack that left at least 70 dead, according to the U.N.’s International Organization for Migration (IOM). The majority of the displaced are currently seeking shelter with relatives, while others have found refuge in schools and temporary shelters.
The attack occurred in the early hours of Thursday in Pont-Sondé, a town in the Artibonite region. Heavily armed gang members raided homes, killing, looting, and setting fire to buildings. Sonise Mirano, a 60-year-old resident, recounted the chaos, saying she barely managed to escape with her children in the dead of night. Hundreds of others, like Mirano, are now camping in parks in the nearby coastal city of Saint-Marc.
Following the attack, bodies were found strewn across the streets, many of the victims shot in the head. Activists and local officials have reported an increasing number of casualties as they gain access to more parts of the town. Among the dead were a young mother, her newborn baby, and a midwife, according to Bertide Harace, a spokesperson for a local reconciliation and awareness group.
Prime Minister Garry Conille has condemned the violence, vowing to bring the perpetrators to justice. He stated that the government would not rest until those responsible are arrested and punished. Conille also emphasized the need for restitution for the victims.
The U.N. Human Rights Office expressed horror over the gang attacks, while the European Union condemned the escalating violence, calling it a new height in the suffering inflicted by criminal groups on the Haitian population.
In response, the Haitian government deployed an elite police unit from the capital, Port-au-Prince, to Pont-Sondé and sent medical supplies to support the area’s overwhelmed hospital. The police presence will remain in the region to maintain security, though Conille could not specify how long it would take to restore order.
Gang violence in Haiti, particularly in the Artibonite region, has been steadily increasing. Thursday’s massacre is one of the most severe incidents in recent times. Similar attacks have occurred in Port-au-Prince, where gangs control roughly 80% of the city, leaving many areas unsafe and civilians unable to return home.
The IOM reported that more than 700,000 people, over half of whom are children, are currently displaced across Haiti, marking a 22% increase since June. Many of the displaced are living in overcrowded conditions with limited access to essential services, including food, healthcare, and supplies.
