Dozens of people have been killed and thousands displaced after armed gangs launched coordinated attacks in Haiti’s main agricultural region, just days before the expected arrival of an international security force.
The assaults targeted the Jean-Denis and Pont-Sondé areas in the western Artibonite department, where gunmen opened fire on civilians and set homes ablaze, according to rights groups.
Haitian authorities confirmed at least 16 deaths on Sunday, while groups such as Défenseurs Plus and RNDDH estimate the toll may have risen to as many as 70 as violence continued into Monday.
Dozens of homes were destroyed, and nearly 6,000 people were forced to flee their communities.
According to local officials, attackers split into multiple groups, blocking roads and digging trenches to cut off access routes, effectively trapping residents. Witnesses said the gunmen shot indiscriminately and caused widespread destruction.
Bertide Horace, a spokesperson for a local civil society group, said at least 30 bodies were recovered across several locations. She added that there was initially no police presence, allowing gangs to operate freely before security forces later arrived, prompting the attackers to retreat.
Medical teams in nearby Saint-Marc reported treating at least 15 injured victims, including a 13-year-old. Several required major surgery, raising fears that the death toll could increase further.
The United Nations has expressed alarm over the escalating violence, urging Haitian authorities to conduct a thorough investigation.
Haiti has struggled with worsening gang violence for years, particularly in the capital, Port-au-Prince, where armed groups control key routes and disrupt access to essential supplies.
A multinational force is expected to deploy soon to help combat the crisis, as rights organizations warn that the situation continues to deteriorate. Amnesty International described the latest killings as part of a broader pattern of unchecked violence and called for urgent collaboration between Haitian authorities and the international community.
Recent UN data shows that at least 26 gangs operate in Port-au-Prince alone, with around 1.4 million people displaced nationwide and more than 5,500 killed between March last year and January this year.
The Artibonite region, often referred to as Haiti’s breadbasket, is critical to the country’s food supply. Continued violence there raises concerns about worsening shortages and deepening humanitarian challenges.
Residents say returning home remains difficult due to the continued presence of armed groups, with entire communities left devastated and livelihoods destroyed.
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