As many as 70 people were killed and 30 others injured in a brutal attack near Petite-Rivière in Haiti’s Artibonite region, according to human rights group Defenseurs Plus, significantly higher than initial official estimates of around 16 deaths.
Residents and local officials said the violence began early Sunday in rural communities around Jean-Denis and continued into Monday, as armed gang members stormed the area and setting homes on fire and spreading panic.
Defenseurs Plus reported that nearly 6,000 people were displaced by the violence, while the United Nations estimated that over 2,000 residents fled their homes in the days following attack.
Initial reports from Haiti National Police indicated 16 deaths and 10 injuries, while civil protection authorities later reported 17 dead and 19 wounded, mostly men. A UN spokesperson said casualty estimates ranged between 10 and 80, calling for a thorough investigation.
In a joint statement, Defenseurs Plus and the Collective to Save the Artibonite condemned what they described as a failure of authorities to respond effectively, accusing them of abandoning the region to armed groups.
An audio message circulating on social media was attributed to Luckson Elan, leader of the Gran Grif gang, who reportedly claimed the attack was retaliation for earlier assaults on their base in Savien by rival groups.
The Artibonite department, a key agricultural hub in Haiti, has witnessed some of the country’s deadliest violence, as gang conflicts spread beyond the capital, Port-au-Prince.
Police said three armoured vehicles were deployed but were slowed by roadblocks dug by militants. By the time forces arrived, attackers had fled and dozens of homes had already been burned. Authorities confirmed that the injured were taken to nearby hospitals, while the deceased were to morgues. An operation is now underway to track down those responsible.
Defenseurs Plus estimated that around 50 houses were destroyed in the attack.
According to a recent UN report, nearly 20,000 people have been killed in Haiti since 2021, as increasingly powerful gangs continue to clash with security forces and vigilante groups.
The Gran Grif group and the Viv Ansanm alliance comprising hundreds of gangs have been designated as terrorist organizations by the United States.
They have been accused of mass killings, sexual violence, arson, and trafficking in weapons, drugs, and even human organs.
Earlier this month, the U.S. announced a reward of up to $3 million for information on the groups’ financial networks.
The latest attack marks another massacre in the region. In October 2024, a Gran Grif assault on Pont-Sonde left at least 115 people dead, as gunmen reportedly went door to door targeting residents.
More than 1.4 million people around 12% of Haiti’s population have been displaced due to escalating gang violence, deepening the country’s economic crisis and worsening food insecurity.
