Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.

According to the United Nations Migration agency, roughly 6,500 people have left their homes following a deadly gang attack in Pont-Sondé, Haiti.

Let’s bring you up to speed: Last week, heavily armed gang members affiliated with “Gran Grif,” launched a brutal attack on the town of Pont-Sondé in Haiti’s Artibonite region, killing at least 70 people. The attackers stormed homes, shooting residents, looting, and setting houses on fire. Bodies were found scattered in the streets, many of them killed execution-style with gunshots to the head. There’s also reports that some women were kidnapped.

Following the deadly attack in Pont-Sondé, Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille ordered the deployment of an elite military police unit that primarily operates in Port-au-Prince. Additionally, Conille said, “This heinous crime, perpetrated against defenseless women, men, and children, is not only an attack on these victims, but on the entire Haitian nation. We will continue to relentlessly pursue those who believe they can act with impunity. We will restore order and state authority everywhere.”

This attack is part of a larger pattern of escalating gang violence in Haiti, particularly as gangs fight for control over territories, often targeting civilians in their rivals’ strongholds.

What UN officials are saying: In a statement, UN Assistant High Commissioner for Operations Raouf Mazou said, “Now more than ever, Haitians need our collective support, and we cannot turn a blind eye. Increased funding, enhanced security and international solidarity are essential to providing life-saving humanitarian assistance and restoring stability and hope in Haiti.”