At least 47 individuals lost their lives, and 22 others sustained injuries during a violent incursion by a gang in a neighborhood overlooking Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti. The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti mentioned on Monday that the casualty figures might still change.
The mayor of Kenscoff, Jean Massillon, reported that armed assailants attacked the community late on Sunday, setting ablaze homes and fatally injuring residents. This hillside community, which overlooks the capital’s entry points, has been subjected to twelve armed gang attacks since the previous year, leading to the displacement of numerous households.
Despite efforts by foreign nations to bolster the under-equipped police force, powerful gangs operating under a broad coalition have long maintained control over the capital city of Haiti and expanded their influence to neighboring areas. Following a “heinous attack,” the Haitian government pledged to enhance security measures, while residents demanded the resignation of the local police chief, accusing law enforcement of failing to safeguard individuals who were killed just minutes away from the police station.
The prime minister’s office declared on social media, “Kenscoff will not be abandoned. The government’s authority will be reinstated promptly and resolutely.”
In Kenscoff, the aftermath of the attack was marked by sorrow and devastation as survivors discovered the bodies of loved ones strewn across the streets. Residents mourned the loss of family members and friends, with one woman inconsolably crying out for her deceased son. The community mobilized to retrieve the victims, some of whom were wrapped in blood-soaked sheets.
Eyewitnesses described the chaos that unfolded during the assault, with one individual recounting the frantic search for his missing brother amidst the gunfire. Another resident blamed the government for the tragic events, highlighting the need for a more robust police presence to prevent such atrocities.
The assault, attributed to members of Viv Ansanm – designated a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. government last year – targeted various locations, including a church and residences, including those belonging to Dr. Jean (Bill) Pape, a renowned doctor running a healthcare NGO in Haiti.
Gang violence, particularly by Viv Ansanm, has plagued Kenscoff, which is located near Port-au-Prince, where gangs reportedly control around 70% of the capital. The escalating violence has displaced a staggering 1.5 million Haitians, with over 3,100 fatalities and 1,189 injuries documented from January to June this year, according to UN data.
The recent attack occurred shortly after the U.S. government deported over 160 individuals to Haiti, following the termination of temporary protected status (TPS) for certain Haitian nationals. The Haitian government disclosed that among the deportees were TPS holders legally employed in the U.S. and some individuals of Haitian descent born outside of Haiti. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed that the deportees included several criminals with convictions ranging from assault to drug trafficking.
Despite preparations for general elections on December 13 – the first in over a decade – concerns loom over the safety and feasibility of conducting the elections due to the prevailing insecurity in Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas.