Death Toll Rises to 115 in Brutal Gang Attack in Haiti’s Pont-Sondé

The death toll from a violent gang attack on the small town of Pont-Sondé in central Haiti last week has risen to 115, according to local authorities. Myriam Fièvre, mayor of the nearby city of Saint-Marc, confirmed the updated figure on Wednesday, noting that more bodies are likely to be found as searches continue in inaccessible areas of town. 

The attack, which took place on October 3, is considered one of the most devastating massacres in Haiti in recent years. The gang responsible for the assault, known as Gran Grif, reportedly arrived in Pont-Sondé via canoes, taking the town’s residents by surprise. Victims included infants, young mothers, and elderly people. 

Local human rights groups described the attack as systematic and brutal. Survivors have raised concerns about the lack of intervention by authorities, especially since Gran Grif had openly threatened the town in a social media video days before the massacre. “We are working to make sure that population is protected,” Fièvre said in a phone interview, though frustration over authorities’ response remains palpable. 

Escalating Violence in the Artibonite Region 

United Nations had initially reported at least 70 fatalities after gang invasion. However, the ongoing discovery of bodies has pushed the death toll higher, with local officials fearing that the final number could surpass 115. Gran Grif, a gang with about 100 members, has a long history of violent crime, including murder, rape, robbery, and mass kidnappings. The gang, formed nearly a decade ago by former legislator Prophane Victor, has established its dominance in the Artibonite region, with the U.N. labeling it the most powerful gang in the area. 

U.S. and U.N. recently imposed sanctions on both Victor and Gran Grif leader Luckson Elan for ir involvement in the gang’s criminal activities. According to the U.N. Security Council, Gran Grif was responsible for nine mass kidnappings between October 2023 and January 2024, with 157 people taken hostage during that period. 

Displacement and Humanitarian Crisis 

gang’s attack on Pont-Sondé has forced more than 6,200 survivors to flee our homes. Many have sought refuge in the coastal city of Saint-Marc and surrounding areas, though a large number of displaced people remain without shelter. Over 750 survivors are currently sleeping on floors of churches, schools, and public plazas, relying on humanitarian assistance. 

Saint-Marc is now struggling to manage the influx of displaced residents. Mayor Fièvre warned that the Gran Grif gang is attempting to infiltrate communities nearby, further exacerbating security and humanitarian crises.  U.N.’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) is working to provide aid to displaced, but resources remain limited. 

Violence in Pont-Sondé is part of a broader surge in gang activity throughout the Artibonite region, where more than 20 criminal groups are vying for control. The gang’s attack is believed to be retaliation against a local self-defense group that had been trying to curb Gran Grif’s influence in the area. The gang had recently established a road toll in the region, which the self-defense group attempted to dismantle. 

National and International Response 

In the wake of the massacre, Haiti’s government replaced the police commissioner overseeing the Artibonite region. However, residents and human rights organizations have criticized the government’s inability to prevent attack despite the gang’s prior threats. 

Situation has drawn international concern, with both the U.S. and  U.N. urging Haitian authorities to restore order in the region.  U.N.’s top human rights officials have expressed alarm at the growing power of gangs like Gran Grif, which have increasingly filled the vacuum left by Haiti’s weakened state institutions. 

As the search for victims in Pont-Sondé continues and displaced survivors seek refuge, Haiti faces an ongoing crisis of violence and instability, with no clear resolution in sight.