Cart
0
Gang Violence Kills Dozens in Haiti’s Artibonite
Coordinated gang attacks in Haiti’s Artibonite region have killed dozens and displaced thousands, worsening an already severe security crisis.
Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Photo by Heather Suggitt from Unsplash
A wave of coordinated gang violence in Haiti’s farming region has left dozens dead and forced thousands to flee, just ahead of the expected arrival of an international security mission intended to curb such attacks.
Armed groups targeted areas of Jean-Denis and Pont-Sondé in the western Artibonite between Sunday and Monday, according to rights organizations. Attackers reportedly opened fire indiscriminately on civilians and set homes on fire. Haitian officials confirmed at least 16 fatalities on Sunday, while groups including Defenders Plus and RNDDH said the death toll may have climbed to around 70 by Monday as violence persisted overnight.
Gear Spotlight- What Our Readers Are Picking Up
The assault destroyed numerous houses and displaced close to 6,000 residents, Defenders Plus reported.
Bertide Horace of the Dialogue and Reconciliation Commission to Save the Artibonite Valley said the attackers split into multiple units to strike several locations simultaneously. They also obstructed key access routes by erecting barricades and digging trenches along major roads.
“When they reached these areas, they began firing in every direction, killing multiple people and causing widespread destruction,” Horace said, adding that 30 bodies had been recovered from different sites.
She noted that police were not present during the initial stages of the нападения, allowing gangs to act freely. “They were filming and operating with complete confidence,” she said, describing how residents were left unprotected. Police forces arrived around midday Monday, after which the attackers began to withdraw.
Hospitals in the region have been struggling to cope with the influx of injured victims. Reginald Fils-Aimé, a physician based in central Haiti, said at least 15 wounded individuals were treated at Hospital Saint Nicolas in Saint Marc, including a 13-year-old. Seven required major treatment. He warned that more casualties could arrive, calling it the largest surge linked to gang violence in recent weeks.
The United Nations voiced concern over the situation. “This attack underscores the seriousness of the security challenges facing the Haitian population,” said Stéphane Dujarric, urging a full investigation by Haitian authorities.
Haiti has faced prolonged instability driven by gang activity, and a multinational initiative known as the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) is expected to deploy soon to confront armed groups. Johanna Pelaez of Amnesty International described the latest violence as part of an ongoing pattern of unchecked atrocities.
“This massacre is another example of repeated failures by both Haitian authorities and the international community to halt such crimes,” Pelaez said, stressing the need for coordinated, long-term solutions.
A recent UN report highlighted that at least 26 gangs are active in Port-au-Prince, where armed groups control vital supply routes, severely disrupting access to essential goods. The report estimates that around 1.4 million people have been displaced, while more than 5,500 have been killed between March last year and January this year.
Gang control has extended beyond the capital into regions such as Artibonite and the Central department. Artibonite, often referred to as the country’s “breadbasket,” is critical for food production, making the situation there especially alarming amid existing shortages.
“It is extremely difficult for residents to return because gangs have devastated everything in their path,” Horace said.
“They have not only torn apart families but also destroyed homes, belongings, and livelihoods,” she added.
Editor’s Note:
The latest wave of violence in Artibonite underscores the deepening security crisis in Haiti, highlighting the urgent need for effective intervention as gangs expand their control beyond Port-au-Prince.
