At least 40 people were killed, some in execution-style killings, following a gang raid on displaced persons sheltering in a church near Port-au-Prince this weekend, according to local officials.
The attack resulted in numerous injuries, and several individuals remain missing as armed groups continue to exert control over large portions of the capital.
In a statement issued after the massacre, the office of Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime expressed “deep compassion” for the victims and their families. The government has pledged to deploy security reinforcements to the area to restore order.
The violence occurred Sunday night in Kenscoff, a mountainous town located southeast of Port-au-Prince. For months, the region has been plagued by gang incursions as armed groups attempt to expand their territorial influence.
A Night of Terror
Mayor Massillon Jean described the event as “a night of terror” for the community.
“We have identified approximately 40 bodies, and search operations are ongoing as some people are still missing,” Jean told AFP on Monday.
The attackers specifically targeted a site housing individuals who had already fled violence in other parts of the country.
“The bandits raided a displaced persons camp situated within a church,” Jean explained. “They executed several people, leaving dozens wounded and several others abducted by the criminals.”
Local residents remain in a state of shock. One man in his sixties, who managed to escape with his family, recounted the harrowing experience. “I don’t know how I survived,” he told reporters. “When the gunfire started, I thought it was the police, but it was the gangs. We climbed over a wall and hid under corrugated iron sheets. There were so many dead.”
Families Torn Apart
Marlène, a survivor who lost both her husband and brother in the attack, sat weeping with her five children. She recounted the moment armed men invaded her home.
“They forced their way in, smashed the door, and dragged my husband away,” she said. “The bandits threatened to kill him if he didn’t move, but he fought back. This morning, I am left only with his body. He was the provider for our five children.”
Haiti, the most impoverished nation in the Americas, continues to struggle with chronic political instability, natural disasters, and systemic corruption. Powerful gangs frequently engage in widespread killings, sexual violence, looting, and kidnappings, maintaining significant control over Port-au-Prince.
According to UN data, nearly 1.5 million Haitians are currently displaced, and more than five million people are facing acute food insecurity.
The humanitarian crisis intensified in early 2024 following a surge in gang violence that led to the resignation of the unelected prime minister. The country has not held a national election since 2016, following the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise.
General elections are currently scheduled for December 2026.
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