Violent armed group massacres over 70 individuals in Haiti.
In a brutal assault on a vulnerable community in a small town in Haiti, at least 70 individuals, including around ten females and three young children, were reportedly slain, as per UN data. Preliminary local media reports pointed towards numerous casualties in the incident in Pont-Sondé. The Geneva-based UN Human Rights Office stated that gang members had discharged automatic weapons. Furthermore, 16 individuals suffered severe injuries, and 45 houses along with 34 vehicles were set ablaze.
Prime Minister Garry Conille of the impoverished Caribbean nation, Haiti, described the act as an inhumane attack on the defenseless populace. According to the government, members of the Gran Grif gang pounced on the townsfolk in the wee hours of Thursday (local time), displaying "unspeakable brutality."
The UN issued a statement, condemning the unnecessary violence against innocent civilians and urging an immediate, rigorous, and coordinated state action. In response, the deployment of security forces in the region north of Port-au-Prince, the capital, will be intensified.
Aid from international peacekeeping force
Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, has been grappling with the brutal effects of armed gangs for years. These gangs have largely taken control of Port-au-Prince, and the violence is spreading to other regions. Last year, the UN office in Haiti expressed concern over the barbaric actions of the Gran Grif (roughly translates to Great Claw) towards the local population in the Artibonite Valley, where the attacked community is situated.
The Geneva-based UN Human Rights Office pleaded for increased international aid for the multinational security mission in Haiti and demanded a prompt and comprehensive investigation into the attack. Initial details regarding the attack's catalyst were not disclosed by official sources.
The peacekeeping force, spearheaded by Kenya, is currently working towards restoring public order in Haiti. Approved by the UN Security Council last October, the mission aims to deploy 3000 personnel. As of now, only a few hundred officers have arrived in Haiti since June.
The UN Human Rights Office strongly urged for increased international aid to support the multinational security mission in Haiti, following the attack. The Commission also called for a thorough investigation into the events that led to the assault, as detailed information was not yet available.
