At least 11 civilians were killed on Monday in the Artibonite region, in central Haiti, where gang members launched a raid in retaliation for a foreign force operation that resulted in the deaths of members of the criminal organization, a local elected official announced.
The attack was carried out in retaliation against residents in areas contested by rival gangs, in the heart of Haiti’s breadbasket—the agricultural region where Artibonite is located.
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Earlier yesterday, a detachment of soldiers from Sri Lanka assigned to the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), a foreign mission mandated by the United Nations and deployed in the country to help combat gang violence, repelled criminals who had set up illegal checkpoints and were demanding tolls, Mayor Yber Senéac told Radio Kiskeya. Three gang members were killed in the operation, the DKS reported in a statement.
Mayor Seneac said that the detachment—which is supported by the United Nations but is not part of a UN peacekeeping mission—remained in the area for only a few hours, before returning to Gonaïves, where it is based.
“In retaliation, criminals attacked (…), killed people, and set houses on fire,” said Mr. Senéac, noting that according to the information available to him, 11 to 12 people were killed.
Rosie Dousena, head of the National Network for the Defense of Human Rights (RNDDH), stressed that neither the death toll nor the extent of the damage has yet been clarified.
“However, we have already received reports of a family that lost several members,” Ms. Dousena added.
The mayor, Mr. Senéac, pointed out that the area that was targeted is considered a stronghold of the Kokorat San Ras gang.
The security crisis in Haiti has worsened and spread beyond the capital, Port-au-Prince, as gangs seek to expand the territories under their control.
The mandate of the Gang Suppression Force is set to expire this week unless it is extended by the UN Security Council; however, a vote on the matter is scheduled to take place.
Source: CNA
