At Least 70 Killed, 30 Wounded in Haiti Gang Attack, Rights Group Reports

Port-au-Prince. A human rights group has reported that at least 70 people were killed in a fierce armed gang attack in Haiti, with another 30 reported injured. This death toll is significantly higher than the government's initial estimate, which had suggested around 16 casualties from the attack.

The attack reportedly began early Sunday morning and continued until Monday morning in rural settlements near Petit-Rivière in the Artibonite region. Gang members attacked villages around Jean-Denis, setting houses on fire. According to the human rights organization Defenders Plus, approximately 6,000 people have been displaced by the violence. Previously, the United Nations had estimated that over 2,000 people were forced to flee their homes due to gang activities in nearby areas even before this attack.

Police initially reported 16 deaths and 10 injuries. The preliminary report from the civilian security body mentioned 17 deaths and 19 injuries. Most of the deceased are men. A spokesperson for the organization monitoring the situation closely, which includes the UN Special Mission in Haiti (MINUJUSTH), stated that the death toll could range between 10 and 80 and called for an impartial investigation into the incident.

The human rights group strongly criticized the lack of security and government inaction in the Artibonite region, accusing officials of abandoning their responsibilities. Meanwhile, an audio message circulating on social media, reportedly linked to the leader of the Grand Griff gang, Loxon Allen, mentioned that this attack was in retaliation for an attack by a rival gang on their base area in Savien.