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The United States has strongly condemned a massacre carried out by the Grand Grif gang in the town of Pont Sondé, Haiti, which left at least 70 people dead, including women and babies. The massacre, which occurred early Thursday morning, has shocked the international community and renewed calls for urgent action against the escalating gang violence in the country.
The United Nations Human Rights Office expressed horror over the attack, which saw gang members armed with automatic rifles open fire on the local population. At least 10 women and three babies were among the victims. The gang also set fire to 45 houses and 34 vehicles, forcing residents to flee the area, the UN reported.
Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille condemned the brutal attack and called for national unity and a coordinated government response to address the gang violence plaguing the country. He announced that the Haitian National Policewould intensify operations in the area, with the support of specialized units from the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS), a UN-backed mission led by Kenya.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield expressed deep sorrow for the victims and emphasized the need for increased international assistance to help Haiti combat gang violence. “More needs to be done to support the people of Haiti against the scourge of gang violence,” Thomas-Greenfield stated on X (formerly Twitter).
The UN has echoed calls for enhanced contributions to the Multinational Security Support Mission, which aims to restore stability in Haiti amid a growing gang crisis. The organization has also urged Haitian authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the massacre and ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
The massacre in Pont Sondé is the latest in a series of violent attacks by gangs that have destabilized Haiti, particularly in the Artibonite region. Human rights organizations, such as the Commission for Dialogue, Reconciliation, and Awareness to Save Artibonite, have raised alarms about the growing threat posed by armed groups like Grand Grif.
