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, Haiti’s capital. The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti mentioned on Monday that the casualty figures might change. Kenscoff’s mayor, Jean Massillon, reported that armed assailants attacked the community late Sunday, setting residences ablaze and killing inhabitants.
The hillside community, which has been targeted by armed gangs multiple times since last year, witnessed a spate of attacks, leading to the displacement of thousands of residents. Despite efforts by foreign nations to bolster Haiti’s police force, powerful gangs, operating under a broad alliance, have entrenched their control over the capital and neighboring areas.
Following the latest attack, which the government condemned as “heinous,” residents criticized the local police chief for failing to protect the victims who were killed just minutes away from the police station. The prime minister’s office reassured the community of Kenscoff that the government would swiftly restore order and security without any compromise.
Witnesses in Kenscoff recounted the harrowing scenes of discovering the bodies of loved ones strewn across the streets. The grief-stricken survivors lamented the lack of adequate security measures, with one resident pointing out that a well-equipped police force could have prevented the tragedy. Massillon attributed the attack to members of Viv Ansanm, a group designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. government last year.
Gang violence, predominantly orchestrated by Viv Ansanm, has plagued Kenscoff and other parts of Port-au-Prince, where gangs control an estimated 70% of the city. The ongoing gang violence has forced a record number of Haitians, approximately 1.5 million, to flee their homes. Over 3,100 fatalities and 1,189 injuries were reported in Haiti from January to June, according to UN data.
The recent assault occurred shortly after the U.S. government deported over 160 individuals to Haiti, following a legal battle that terminated temporary protected status for thousands of Haitians. The deportees included individuals with criminal backgrounds, as disclosed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. With general elections scheduled for December 13, concerns have been raised about the safety and feasibility of conducting elections in the current volatile environment.
