By Thousands of residents fled the Haitian town of Pont-Sonde following a deadly overnight attack by the Gran Grif gang, local newspaper Le Nouvelliste reported Thursday. The violence marks a concerning expansion of gang influence beyond the capital.
At least 11 people were killed and dozens injured in the assault on Pont-Sonde, a major rice-producing town about 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of Port-au-Prince. Some reports suggest the death toll may be higher.
Haiti’s national police confirmed multiple fatalities and severe injuries but did not provide specific numbers. The police later deployed their UTAG anti-gang tactical unit to the area.
“The police have been formally instructed to restore order and prevent all those sowing terror in the Artibonite department from causing harm,” Haiti’s Justice Ministry said in a statement. “These crimes will not go unpunished.”
According to Le Nouvelliste, gang members led by 36-year-old Luckson Elan, recently sanctioned by the United Nations, burned buildings and executed people in the streets. Thousands of residents sought refuge in the coastal town of Saint-Marc.
The attack on Pont-Sonde, located in Haiti’s breadbasket Artibonite department, exacerbates the country’s worsening hunger crisis. Half of Haiti’s population already faces severe food insecurity, with thousands in Port-au-Prince experiencing famine-level hunger.
The violence has also contributed to a surge in internal displacement, with over 700,000 people now displaced across Haiti – nearly double the number from six months ago. This increase comes despite the partial deployment of a UN-backed security mission.
In response to the escalating crisis, the neighboring Dominican Republic announced plans to increase migrant deportations to up to 10,000 per week, citing slow progress in restoring order in Haiti.
As gang influence continues to spread beyond Port-au-Prince, concerns grow about Haiti’s ability to address the interconnected challenges of violence, food insecurity, and displacement.
