Mass Exodus in Haiti: 6,300 Flee Homes After Deadly Gang Attack in Pont-Sondé

In a devastating turn of events, nearly 6,300 people have been forced to abandon their homes in central Haiti following a brutal gang attack that left at least 70 people dead. Heavily armed gang members carried out the attack in the town of Pont-Sondé, displacing thousands and creating a humanitarian crisis in a country already grappling with severe instability.

Mass Displacement and Struggles for Safety

The United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that nearly 90% of the displaced are seeking refuge with relatives, while others have found shelter in schools and makeshift sites. Many fled in the dead of night as gunfire erupted, with homes looted and burned. One survivor, 60-year-old Sonise Mirano, recounted how she barely managed to grab her children and escape into the darkness.

The violence in Pont-Sondé, part of the Artibonite region, left bodies strewn across the streets. Most victims were executed with shots to the head, according to Bertide Harace, a spokesperson for a local commission focused on saving the region. In response, the United Nations Human Rights Office condemned the attack, expressing horror at the escalating violence.

International Outrage and Local Response

The attack has drawn strong international condemnation. The European Union issued a statement decrying the violence, marking it as yet another episode of extreme brutality inflicted on the Haitian people by organized criminal groups.

In response to the massacre, Haiti’s government deployed an elite police unit from the capital, Port-au-Prince, to Pont-Sondé. They also sent medical supplies to aid the overwhelmed local hospital. Prime Minister Garry Conille assured the public that law enforcement would remain in the area until stability is restored, while acknowledging that the police cannot tackle the problem alone. He urged the population to assist in the fight against gang violence.

A Rising Tide of Gang Violence

The Artibonite region, which is crucial for Haiti’s agricultural production, has seen a sharp increase in gang violence over recent years. Thursday’s massacre is one of the deadliest incidents in the area, but similar atrocities have plagued Port-au-Prince, where gangs control approximately 80% of the city. These gangs frequently engage in turf wars, leaving civilians in rival territories vulnerable to violence and attacks.

Initially, authorities estimated the death toll in Pont-Sondé to be around 20, but activists and officials later discovered more bodies, including a young mother, her newborn, and a midwife.

The Growing Displacement Crisis

Haiti’s displacement crisis continues to worsen. More than 700,000 people, over half of whom are children, have been displaced across the country, according to the IOM. This represents a 22% increase since June, with many of the displaced seeking refuge in Port-au-Prince and other regions. Those forced to flee often end up in overcrowded and under-resourced environments, with limited access to food, healthcare, and essential supplies.

The recent attack in Pont-Sondé highlights the escalating violence and the deepening humanitarian crisis in Haiti, where criminal gangs continue to terrorize the population, displacing thousands and leaving communities in despair.