In a recent discussion, we delved into the alarming violence that has erupted in Ponsant, a small town located in central Haiti. On October 9, the American Public Broadcasting Service reported that a gang attack left at least 115 people dead.

Sources indicate that the Grand Grief gang launched a brutal assault on Ponsant last week, arriving by canoe and specifically targeting local residents, including infants, young mothers, and the elderly.

Consequently, more than 6,200 people have fled Ponsant in search of safety, finding refuge in the coastal city of Saint Marc and its nearby areas. Roman Leclerc, a senior expert on Haiti with the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, highlighted that this event is a grim manifestation of violence, conveying a “very tragic message and challenge” to Haitian authorities and the international community alike.

Artibonite is notorious for its violence, trailing only Port-au-Prince, the capital. For years, local residents have implored the government to enhance security measures in the region. The Grand Grief gang has been active in Artibonite for a significant period, facing serious allegations that include widespread kidnappings, rape, murder, forced displacement of farmers, and the recruitment of children into gang-related activities. The gang’s leader, Laxson Elan, was added to the United Nations Security Council sanctions list in September.

According to Haiti Times, multinational police forces have been deployed to the Artibonite region to support the Haitian National Police in their efforts to combat gang violence and restore order in the area.