Children among 70 killed in Haiti gang ‘massacre’
At least 70 people, including children, have lost their lives following an attack by an armed gang in a small town in Haiti. The United Nations reported that 16 individuals sustained serious injuries as members of the Gran Grif gang wreaked havoc in Pont-Sondé, located in the central Artibonite region, approximately 71 kilometers (44 miles) northwest of Port-au-Prince.
Footage captures groups of people fleeing the violence, both on motorbikes and on foot. A government prosecutor described the incident as “a massacre,” according to the Associated Press.
Armed gangs have seized control of vast areas of Haiti, and a UN-backed policing mission, led by Kenyan officers, commenced in June to regain control.
Reports indicate that gang members set fire to at least 45 homes and 34 vehicles, as stated by the UN. Gran Grif is regarded as one of the most violent gangs in Haiti. In January 2023, its members were accused of attacking a police station near Pont-Sondé, resulting in the deaths of six officers. The gang is also responsible for the closure of a hospital serving over 700,000 people.
With approximately 100 members, the gang faces accusations of various crimes, including murder, rape, robbery, and kidnapping, as noted in a UN report cited by the AP. Both its founder and current leader are under US sanctions.
Thursday’s gang rampage comes almost a month after the Haitian authorities expanded a state of emergency to cover the whole of the country.
Prime Minister Garry Conille has vowed to crack down on the gangs, with the UN saying a “robust use of force” is needed.
It has approved the policing mission made up of 2,500 officers from various countries – including 1,000 pledged by Kenya.
Their deployment has been authorised for one year, with a review to be held after nine months.
