At least 70 people, including children, have been killed after an armed gang attacked a small town in Haiti.
Sixteen people were seriously injured, according to the UN, when members of the Gran Grif gang raided Pont-Sondé in the central Artibonite region about 71 kilometers (44 miles) northwest of the capital Port-au-Prince.
Video footage shows groups of people fleeing the violence on motorbikes and on foot. A federal prosecutor described the incident as “a massacre,” the Associated Press reported.
Armed gangs control large parts of Haiti and the UN-backed police force, led by the Kenyan policeit started in June with an effort to bring it back.
It is reported that gang members “burned at least 45 houses and 34 cars”, the UN said.
The Gran Grif is said to be one of the most violent gangs in Haiti. In January 2023, its members were accused of attacking a police station near Pont-Sondé, killing six police officers. It is also accused of forcing the closure of a hospital that serves more than 700,000 people.
The gang has approximately 100 members and has been accused of murder, rape, robbery and kidnapping, according to a UN report cited by AP. Both its founder and current leader are under US sanctions.
Thursday’s gang violence comes nearly a month after Haitian authorities extend the state of emergency to unite the whole country.
Prime Minister Garry Conille has vowed to deal with gangs, as the UN says “the use of force is needed”.
It authorized a police force made up of 2,500 officers from various countries – including a thousand pledged by Kenya.
Their submission has been approved for one year, and a review will be done after nine months.
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