A devastating attack by the notorious Gran Grif gang in Pont-Sonde, Haiti, has left at least 70 people dead and over 6,000 displaced, according to reports from the United Nations and local authorities. The brutal assault, which occurred on October 3, 2024, in the agricultural region of Artibonite, western Haiti, has been roundly condemned.
Gang leader Luckson Elan claimed responsibility for the massacre, citing retaliation for civilians’ alleged passivity amidst police and vigilante killings of his gang members. However, Prime Minister Garry Conille denounced the attack, labeling it an “odious crime against defenseless women, men, and children” and a blow to the entire Haitian nation.
Eyewitness accounts describe chaotic scenes as pedestrians and bike riders fled for their lives, while gang members went door-to-door, shooting and killing indiscriminately. Many victims were shot in the head, and dozens of homes and vehicles were set ablaze.
The UN Human Rights Office expressed horror at the attack, reporting at least 16 people seriously injured, including two gang members. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the violence.
Humanitarian Crisis
The attack has displaced approximately 6,270 people, with many seeking shelter in nearby towns and makeshift camps. The International Organization for Migration reports that over 700,000 people have been displaced due to gang violence in Haiti this year.
Violence and Instability
Haiti’s Artibonite region has witnessed some of the country’s worst violence outside Port-au-Prince, exacerbating hunger and food shortages. The UN Human Rights Office reported over 3,661 deaths from “senseless” gang violence in 2024.
As the Haitian government scrambles to contain the situation, supported by international security forces, concerns mount about the nation’s stability and the impact on its already vulnerable population.
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