Haiti: At least 70 killed in 'massacre,' says rights group
DW.com • • world
Key Points:
- At least 70 people were killed and 30 injured in a gang attack in Haiti's Artibonite region, according to the Collective Defending Human Rights group, significantly higher than earlier official reports of 16-17 deaths.
- The attack, carried out by the Gran Grif gang around 3 a.m. Sunday in the Jean-Denis area, forced nearly 6,000 residents to flee their homes amid escalating gang violence beyond the capital.
- Local authorities were criticized for their inadequate security response, while a UN spokesman condemned the attack and called for a full investigation, highlighting the serious security challenges facing Haiti.
- The Gran Grif and Viv Ansanm gangs have been designated terrorist organizations by the US, which has offered rewards for information on their financial operations; Haitian and international forces have increased operations but have yet to capture major gang leaders.
- Since 2021, gang violence in Haiti has displaced over one million people, caused nearly 20,000 deaths, and worsened food insecurity, with the crisis intensifying annually.
