Deadly gang attack devastates Haiti’s farming region

At least 70 people have been killed and dozens injured following a brutal gang attack in the Artibonite region of Haiti, according to local human rights organizations, significantly higher than earlier official estimates.

The violence reportedly began early Sunday near Petite-Rivière, in rural communities around Jean-Denis, and continued into Monday. Witnesses said heavily armed gang members stormed villages, setting homes ablaze and forcing residents to flee. The rights group Défenseurs Plus estimated that around 6,000 people have been displaced by the attacks, while the United Nations suggested that at least 2,000 residents had fled in the immediate aftermath.

Authorities initially reported a far lower death toll, with figures ranging between 16 and 17 fatalities. However, local groups argue the scale of the violence has been severely underestimated. In a joint statement, Défenseurs Plus and the Collective to Save the Artibonite criticized the lack of a swift security response, calling it a “complete abdication of responsibility.

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The attack has been linked to the Gran Grif gang. A voice message circulating online, allegedly from leader Luckson Elan, suggested the assault was retaliation for earlier clashes with rival groups in Savien.

Police said they deployed armored vehicles, but their progress was hindered by roads sabotaged by gang members. By the time officers arrived, many homes had already been destroyed, and the attackers had fled. Authorities confirmed that the injured were taken to nearby hospitals and an operation is underway to locate those responsible.

The Artibonite region, a key agricultural hub, has increasingly become a hotspot for gang violence, highlighting the growing instability beyond the capital, Port-au-Prince.