Nearly 6,300 individuals have fled their homes following an attack by heavily armed gang members in central Haiti, which resulted in the deaths of at least 70 people, according to the U.N.’s migration agency.
Almost 90% of those displaced are currently staying with relatives in host families, while 12% have sought refuge in other locations, including schools and parks, as reported by the International Organization for Migration last week.
The assault in Pont-Sondé occurred in the early hours of Thursday morning, prompting many residents to flee on foot under the cover of darkness, taking only their children and immediate family members.
In the aftermath of the attack, bodies were left scattered in the streets of Pont-Sondé, with many victims reportedly shot in the head, as stated by Bertide Harace, spokeswoman for the Commission for Dialogue, Reconciliation, and Awareness to Save the Artibonite.
Those without shelter at the Saint Marc park have voiced concerns about hunger, citing a lack of adequate food and water distribution. Every container of rice and beans, as well as every bottle of water, has become a source of fierce competition.
Displaced women recounted their experiences, sharing stories of hearing gunfire and witnessing men breaking into homes and shooting at people.
On Friday, Prime Minister Gary Conille visited Saint-Marc, assuring the public that those responsible for the attack would face the full force of the law.
Gang violence has surged in the Artibonite region, which is a major agricultural area in Haiti, leading to Thursday’s attack being one of the deadliest massacres in recent years. Similar incidents have also occurred in the capital, Port-au-Prince, where gangs control 80% of the territory, often linked to turf wars that endanger civilians in rival territories.
Many neighbourhoods have become unsafe, preventing those affected by the violence from returning home, even if their houses remain intact.
According to the International Organization for Migration in a statement on October 2, more than 700,000 people, over half of whom are children, are now internally displaced across Haiti, marking a 22% increase since June.6
