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Over 70 people have been killed and thousands have been displaced after a brutal gang attack in Haiti.

Some shit you should know before you dig in: If you’re unaware, Haiti has been dealing with a multitude of severe security crises, with powerful gangs now controlling over 70% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and large areas of the central region. These gangs have taken over key infrastructure, displaced millions, and are responsible for at least 8,000 deaths in 2025 alone. In response, Haiti’s government has attempted to launch a counteroffensive, including hiring private military contractors to conduct drone strikes and support from an underfunded UN-backed Kenyan-led gang suppression force. Despite these efforts, many within the Transitional Presidential Council have expressed frustration over the lack of progress in reclaiming gang-occupied territory and restoring public safety. They have openly warned that the council could reconsider Fils-Aimé’s role if the security situation did not improve.

What’s going on now: The massacre, which took place in Haiti’s Artibonite region near Petite-Rivière de l’Artibonite, unfolded over the early hours of Sunday into Monday as heavily armed members of the Gran Grif gang stormed rural communities. Residents reported gunmen moving through neighborhoods, setting homes on fire, shooting civilians, and leaving bodies in the streets.

While Haitian police initially reported around 16 to 17 deaths and roughly a dozen injuries, human rights groups and local activists say the true toll is far higher , with at least 70 killed and more than 30 wounded.

The violence also triggered a massive wave of displacement. Rights organizations estimate that close to 6,000 people fled their homes during and after the attack, with entire communities emptied out as families escaped on foot to nearby towns. This came on top of an already tense situation, as the United Nations had reported that more than 2,000 people had already been displaced in the surrounding area in the days leading up to the attack due to earlier gang raids. At least 50 homes were burned to the ground, leaving many with nothing and worsening an already dire humanitarian situation in Haiti’s key agricultural region.

In an audio message circulating on social media and believed to be Gran Grif gang leader Luckson Elan, he said the attack was in retaliation for earlier attacks on the gang’s base by a rival group.

Activists and human rights groups have condemned both the gang and the government’s response, accusing authorities of effectively abandoning the region to armed groups. Defenseurs Plus called the lack of security intervention a “complete abdication of responsibility.”

Despite this, Haitian police say they did respond, deploying armored vehicles and launching operations to track down the attackers, but admitted their efforts were slowed after gang members dug trenches in roads to block access. By the time officers reached the area, the gunmen were gone.