SAINT-MARC, Haiti — In the wake of a brutal attack in central Haiti, nearly 6,300 individuals have abandoned their homes, according to the U.N.’s migration agency. Armed gang members killed at least 70 people. Most of the displaced, around 90%, are now staying with relatives, while 12% have found shelter in places like a school, detailed the International Organization for Migration in a report released last week.
The assault in Pont-Sondé occurred early Thursday morning, with many fleeing during the night. “They began shooting and breaking into houses to steal and burn. I barely had time to grab my children and run in the dark,” recounted 60-year-old Sonise Mirano. She is now camping with hundreds in a park in the coastal city of Saint-Marc.
Following the attack in the Artibonite region, bodies were found on the streets of Pont-Sondé, many shot in the head, according to Bertide Harace, spokeswoman for the Commission for Dialogue, Reconciliation and Awareness to Save the Artibonite. Initial counts estimated 20 deaths, but more bodies were found as officials accessed the town. Victims included a young mother, her newborn, and a midwife.
Prime Minister Garry Conille, speaking in Saint-Marc on Friday, promised to bring the perpetrators to justice. “They must be arrested, tried, and imprisoned. The victims deserve restitution,” he stated.
The U.N. Human Rights Office expressed its horror at Thursday’s attacks. The European Union also condemned the violence, calling it an escalation of the extreme violence plaguing the Haitian people.
In response, Haiti’s government sent an elite police unit from Port-au-Prince to Pont-Sondé and supplied medical aid to the area’s overwhelmed hospital. Conille assured that the police would stay as long as necessary to ensure safety, but he could not specify a timeframe. He urged the population to support the police, saying, “The police cannot do it alone.”
Gang violence in Artibonite, a key agricultural region, has surged in recent years. Thursday’s attack is among the deadliest, following similar incidents in Port-au-Prince, where gangs control 80% of the city. These attacks often stem from turf wars, with gangs targeting civilians in rival-controlled areas. Many affected individuals cannot return home, even if their homes remain intact.
According to an Oct. 2 statement by the International Organization for Migration, over 700,000 people are now internally displaced across Haiti, with more than half being children. This marks a 22% increase since June. Port-au-Prince hosts a quarter of these displaced people, many living in overcrowded conditions without basic services.
Families hosting the displaced face severe challenges, including food shortages and strained healthcare facilities, reported the agency.
What Other Media Are Saying
- Bastille Post reports nearly 6,300 Haitians fled their homes following a gang attack, highlighting the escalating violence and displacement in the country, underscoring humanitarian concerns.(read more)
- AP News reports a brutal gang attack in Pont-Sondé, central Haiti, killing over 20, with Gran Grif gang identified as responsible, highlighting escalating gang violence in the Artibonite region.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
How many people fled their homes after the attack in central Haiti?
Where are most of the displaced people staying?
Nearly 90% are staying with relatives in host families.
What happened during the attack in Pont-Sondé?
Gang members shot and broke into houses to steal and burn.
What actions has the Haitian government taken in response to the attack?
Deployed an elite police unit and sent medical supplies to the area.
How has gang violence affected Haiti recently?
Gang violence has increased, displacing over 700,000 people.
