At least 20 killed in Haiti attack, security forces on maximum alert

Armed gangs unleashed a brutal attack on the Kenscoff commune, east of Port-au-Prince, on Monday, leaving at least 20 people dead and setting fire to homes and vehicles. Local media reports suggest the death toll could be as high as 40. The massacre has prompted the Haitian government to place all security forces on "maximum alert."

The government, in a statement, expressed solidarity with the victims' families and pledged to deploy authorities to restore order. "The government is standing. It does not retreat, it does not compromise, it does not back down. Kenscoff will not be abandoned. Haiti will not be handed over to the bandits. The Republic will win," the official note declared.

Residents took to the streets in protest against the lack of protection from security forces. Intense exchanges of gunfire and explosions forced hundreds of inhabitants to flee their homes. The police intervened to repel the attack, which also resulted in injuries and the burning of dozens of homes, according to local media.

Among the targets of the armed groups was a church serving as a refuge for displaced people and the home of Dr. William Pape, founder of the Gheskio centers, which focus on healthcare and the fight against HIV in Haiti. The gangs, part of the Viv Ansam coalition, aim to consolidate their presence in Kenscoff, a strategic area due to its proximity to the Southeast department and the city of Jacmel.

This surge in violence occurs against a backdrop of widespread insecurity in Haiti. According to UN data, violence in the first five months of the year caused at least 2,310 deaths and 1,106 injuries. Additionally, there were 99 kidnappings, 699 victims of sexual violence, and hundreds of children in the hands of human trafficking networks. Approximately 5.8 million Haitians, about 52% of the population, face food insecurity.

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The government is standing. It does not retreat, it does not compromise, it does not back down. Kenscoff will not be abandoned. Haiti will not be handed over to the bandits. The Republic will win.