Reuters: At least 70 people were killed and 30 injured in an attack near Petite-Rivière in Haiti’s Artibonite region, according to a human rights group, far higher than official estimates of around 16 dead.
Residents and officials said the attack began early Sunday in rural communities around Jean-Denis and continued into Monday, with gang members storming the area and setting homes on fire. The Defenseurs Plus rights group estimated that the violence displaced 6,000 people. The United Nations said more than 2,000 people fled their homes following recent gang raids in the area.
Police initially reported 16 dead and 10 injured, while civil protection authorities later said 17 were killed and 19 wounded, mostly men.
A spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General said the organisation’s office in Haiti was closely monitoring the situation, with death toll estimates ranging from 10 to 80. The UN called for a thorough investigation.
Defenseurs Plus, in a joint statement, criticized authorities for failing to respond, saying the situation reflected a “complete abdication of responsibility.”
An audio message circulating on social media, attributed to Gran Grif leader Luckson Elan, suggested the attack was retaliation for violence against their base in Savien by a rival group.
The Artibonite region, a key agricultural area, has experienced some of Haiti’s worst violence. Gang conflict has spread beyond the capital, Port-au-Prince, despite increased policing efforts and promises of international support.
Haiti’s National Police said it deployed three armoured vehicles, but their movement was slowed by roadblocks dug by gangs. By the time officers arrived, the attackers had fled and several homes had already been burned. QThe injured were taken to a local hospital, while the dead were sent to two morgues. Authorities said an operation is underway to track down the perpetrators.
Defenseurs Plus reported that around 50 houses were destroyed.According to a recent UN report, nearly 20,000 people have been killed in Haiti since 2021 as powerful armed gangs continue to clash with security forces and vigilante groups.
Groups such as Gran Grif and Viv Ansanm have been designated as terrorist organisations by the United States and are accused of mass killings, sexual violence, arson, and trafficking. The United States recently offered a reward of up to $3 million for information on their financial networks.
The latest attack follows a series of massacres in the region. In October 2024, a Gran Grif assault on Pont-Sonde left 115 people dead.
More than 1.4 million people — about 12% of Haiti’s population — have been displaced by ongoing gang violence, worsening the country’s economic crisis and food insecurity.
