Haiti Massacre displaces thousands as gang violence escalates

Around 6,300 people have been displaced after an armed gang attack in central Haiti, which left at least 70 dead, according to the UN’s migration agency. 

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that nearly 90% of the displaced are staying with relatives, while others have sought shelter in various sites, including a school.

Survivors described the chaos, with 60-year-old Sonise Mirano recounting how she fled with her children as gunmen shot at homes, looting and setting them on fire. 

Bodies were found on the streets of Pont-Sondé, with many gunshot wounds to the head, according to the local activists. Initial estimates suggested 20 dead, but more victims, including a mother, her newborn baby, and a midwife, were discovered as officials gained access to affected areas. 

Prime Minister Garry Conille promised that those responsible would face justice, stating, ‘They must pay for what they have done, and the victims deserve restitution.’ The Haitian government deployed an elite police unit and sent medical supplies to support the overwhelmed hospital in the region. 

The attack is one of the deadliest in the Artibonite region, which has seen a rise in gang violence, contributing to widespread insecurity. Haiti’s gang violence has displaced over 700,000 people, more than half of whom are children.

Many of the displaced have taken refuge with families, facing challenges such as food shortages, overwhelmed healthcare, and lack of essential supplies. 

The UN and the European Union condemned the attack, with the latter calling it “another escalation in extreme violence”. Despite efforts by the government to restore order, many fear the situation may take weeks or months to stabilise.