A deadly attack in Haiti’s central Artibonite region has left at least 70 people dead and around 30 injured, according to the human rights organization Defenseurs Plus—a figure far higher than initial official estimates.

The violence erupted in the rural communities near Petite-Rivière, particularly around Jean-Denis, beginning early Sunday and continuing into Monday. Armed gang members reportedly stormed the এলাকাগুলো, setting homes ablaze and attacking residents.

Local authorities initially reported around 16 deaths, while civil protection officials later revised the figure slightly to 17. However, the United Nations said casualty estimates could range between 10 and 80, calling for a full investigation into the घटना.

According to Defenseurs Plus, approximately 6,000 মানুষ have been displaced by the হামলা, while the U.N. noted that over 2,000 people had already fled their homes in the days leading up to the violence due to nearby gang raids.

In a strongly worded statement, rights groups blamed authorities for failing to act. “The lack of a security response and the abandonment of Artibonite to armed groups demonstrate a complete abdication of responsibility,” they said.

An audio message circulating on social media has been linked to Luckson Elan, leader of the Gran Grif gang. In the recording, he appears to claim the attack was retaliation for earlier assaults on the group’s base in Savien by rival gangs.

The Haitian National Police said it deployed armored vehicles to the area, though progress was slowed by roads sabotaged with large حفরের মতো গর্ত dug by attackers. By the time officers arrived, many homes had already been burned, and the assailants had fled.

Authorities confirmed that the injured were transported to nearby hospitals, while নিহতদের bodies were taken to local morgues. A manhunt is now underway to capture those responsible.

The Artibonite department, a key agricultural hub in Haiti, has increasingly become a hotspot for gang violence, which has spread beyond the রাজধানী Port-au-Prince despite intensified policing efforts.

Haiti has been gripped by escalating violence in recent years. According to the United Nations, nearly 20,000 people have been killed since 2021 as powerful gangs battle security forces and vigilante groups.

Groups such as Gran Grif and Viv Ansanm—recently designated as terrorist organizations by the United States—have been accused of atrocities including mass killings, rape, arson, and trafficking.

The latest massacre follows a سلسلة of হামলা in the same region. In October 2024, a brutal attack by Gran Grif in Pont-Sondé left 115 people dead, with gunmen reportedly going door-to-door targeting civilians.

The ongoing crisis has displaced more than 1.4 million people—around 12% of Haiti’s population—deepening food insecurity and worsening the country’s already fragile economic situation.