At Least 16 Killed in Haiti Gang Attack 

At least 16 people have been killed in a gang attack on a town in central Haiti, police have confirmed, while the United Nations has warned that the death toll could be significantly higher.

UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the scale of casualties from the incident in Petite Rivière de l’Artibonite remains unclear, with estimates ranging from about 10 to as many as 80 fatalities.

He said the attack shows the worsening security crisis facing the Haitian population, describing the situation as deeply alarming.

The violence reportedly occurred between late Saturday and Sunday when members of the Gran Grif gang stormed the town, setting homes ablaze and killing residents, according to local rights activist Bertide Horace.

Police put the death toll at 16, with around 10 others injured, while Horace claimed that as many as 30 people may have been killed, with several others missing.

Authorities also reported that further attacks took place in the area on Monday, raising concerns of continued instability.

Haiti has long struggled with widespread gang violence marked by killings, kidnappings, and sexual violence, particularly as armed groups expand their control in several regions.

A recent UN human rights report estimated that more than 5,500 people were killed between March 2025 and mid-January as a result of gang activity, security operations, and clashes involving vigilante groups.

The report attributed over 1,400 deaths directly to gang violence, while thousands more were linked to state security operations and armed community responses.