Haitian Gang's Attack Kills 70, Including Women and Infants

Massacre in Haiti

On Thursday, a horrific scene unfolded in Haiti as a violent gang killed at least 70 people and injured 16 others. The victims, who were either gunned down or suffocated in arson attacks, included three infants and ten women, according to the UN's human rights office.

The violence took place in Pont-Sondé, an agricultural town approximately 60 miles north of Port-au-Prince, indicating an alarming spread of gang violence beyond the capital. The massacre, which began around 3 am local time, forced over 6,000 residents to flee for their lives.

Haitian Prime Minister Gary Conille condemned the attack in a social media post, calling it a "heinous crime" against the entire Haitian nation.

Details of the Massacre

The victims suffered gunshot wounds to almost every part of their bodies, indicative of the brutal nature of the attack. Frantz Alexis, the director of the hospital that received the majority of the casualties, described the incident as "unprecedented".

The Gran Grif gang, known for its notoriety, claimed responsibility for the attack. The gang also set fire to 45 houses and 34 vehicles. According to the gang's leader, Luckson Elan, the attack was a retaliation against civilians who did not prevent police and vigilantes from killing gang members.

Reaction to the Attack

Despite the ongoing gang violence in Haiti, the scale of Thursday's attack shocked the country's citizens and highlighted the ineffectiveness of the security forces. Bertide Horace, a representative from the Dialogue and Reconciliation Commission to Save the Artibonite Valley, revealed that local police did not resist the gang, apparently outmatched by the gang's firepower.

International Response

In July, Kenyan soldiers were deployed to Haiti as part of a UN-endorsed operation. However, they have yet to make a significant impact on the country's security situation. The US is considering a plan to elevate the status of the Kenyan forces to official UN Peacekeepers. However, the UN Security Council recently extended the mandate of the multinational security force without escalating it to a "peacekeeping" level.

The current outside forces comprise approximately 400 Kenyans and a few dozen Jamaicans, a fraction of the 2,500 total police officers pledged by countries like Chad, Bangladesh, Barbados, and Benin. Around 80% of Port au Prince is reportedly under firm gang control.

The UN Peacekeeping mission in Haiti has faced criticism due to past incidents, including a cholera outbreak that killed over ten thousand people and widespread acts of sexual violence against women.

Immigration Concerns

The attack occurred shortly after the neighboring Dominican Republic announced plans to deport up to 10,000 Haitians per week who are in the country illegally. So far this year, the Dominican Republic has sent 67,000 Haitians back to their home country.

Bottom Line

The recent attack in Haiti underscores the severity of the gang violence problem in the country and raises questions about the effectiveness of international interventions. What are your thoughts on this issue? Do you think more should be done to address gang violence in Haiti? Share this article with your friends and join the conversation. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is available every day at 6 pm.