At Least 16 Killed, Several Injured as Gang Violence Escalates in Haiti’s Artibonite Region

At least 16 people have been killed and 10 others injured following a deadly gang attack in Petite-Rivière, a town in Haiti’s troubled Artibonite region, according to police reports released on Monday.

Authorities said the violence is linked to clashes involving the notorious Gran Grif gang, with local media indicating the attack began in the Jean-Denis neighbourhood. Preliminary figures from civil protection officials suggest the death toll could be higher, with reports of up to 17 নিহত and 19 injured.

The latest нападение comes amid worsening insecurity in Haiti, particularly in rural areas once considered relatively stable. The Artibonite region, known as the country’s agricultural hub, has increasingly become a hotspot for gang-related violence spreading beyond the capital, Port-au-Prince.

According to the United Nations, more than 2,000 people were recently displaced by armed raids in the nearby town of Verrettes. The escalating attacks have forced many residents of Petite-Rivière to flee their homes in search of safety.

Haiti has been grappling with a deepening security crisis, with heavily armed gangs expanding their control over large parts of the country, disrupting daily life and crippling key economic activities.

Security forces continue to face significant challenges in containing the violence, as communities remain vulnerable to repeated attacks and mass displacement.