At Least 70 Killed in Haiti Massacre Amid Gang Violence

At Least 70 Killed in Haiti Massacre Amid Gang Violence
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A human rights group reports that at least 70 people were killed and 30 injured during an attack in the Artibonite region of Haiti, far exceeding official estimates of 16 deaths, Reuters reported.

The attack, which began early Sunday near Petite-Rivière and Jean-Denis, involved armed gangs storming communities, setting homes on fire, and forcing thousands to flee.

Rights group Defenseurs Plus estimated 6,000 people were displaced, while UN reports indicate over 2,000 had left their homes in the days prior due to nearby gang raids. Police deployed armored vehicles but arrived after much of the destruction, including around 50 homes burned.

Authorities attributed the attack to the Gran Grif gang, reportedly retaliating against rival groups. Haiti’s ongoing gang conflict, which has killed nearly 20,000 people since 2021, continues to fuel mass displacement, economic hardship, and insecurity, with organized gangs designated as terrorist organizations by the U.S.