At least 47 individuals lost their lives, and 22 others sustained injuries during a violent attack by a gang in a neighborhood overlooking Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital. The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti revealed this information on Monday, expressing concerns about the repeated fatal assaults due to insufficient protection measures.
Mayor Jean Massillon of Kenscoff reported that armed assailants carried out the assault late on Sunday, setting ablaze residences and targeting residents. This hillside community, known for being a target due to its strategic location, has faced multiple attacks by armed groups over the past year, resulting in the displacement of numerous families.
Despite efforts by foreign nations to bolster the country’s under-resourced police force, powerful gangs, united under a broad alliance, have established a firm grip on the capital and extended their reach to neighboring areas. Following the recent tragedy, the government of Haiti condemned the “heinous attack” and vowed to enhance security measures. Local residents, dissatisfied with the police’s failure to prevent the violence, demanded the resignation of the police chief.
Witnesses in Kenscoff described the harrowing scenes of discovering the bodies of loved ones strewn across the streets. The grief-stricken community mourned the loss of relatives and friends, with one man desperately searching for his missing brother among the chaos. The lack of effective law enforcement was criticized, with residents highlighting the need for better security measures to prevent such atrocities.
The attack, attributed to members of the group Viv Ansanm, designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. government, targeted a church and residences, including those belonging to Dr. Jean (Bill) Pape, a renowned physician running a non-governmental organization that provides medical assistance to patients in Haiti.
Gang violence continues to plague Haiti, with Viv Ansanm frequently targeting Kenscoff and controlling a significant portion of Port-au-Prince. The escalating violence has led to the displacement of over 1.5 million people across the country, with a substantial number of casualties reported. Amidst these challenges, Haiti is preparing for its first general elections in over a decade, with concerns raised about the safety and feasibility of conducting the elections in the current volatile environment.