Louliseul François, a resident of Haiti, vividly recalls the horrific event that unfolded on October 5, 2024, when he sprang out of bed at around three in the morning to join other members of a local vigilante organization at the town entrance. Despite their best efforts, they were quickly outmatched and ran into the hills, where the terrified, bleary-eyed inhabitants cowered.
François lost six friends and family members in the early morning assault, and he stated, “The gangs shot at anything that moved – even dogs… They came to wipe out the whole area. It was a premeditated massacre.” When he returned to the scene later that morning, he was met with the unspeakable horrors he saw, his voice quivering with sorrow. The attackers had broken into houses and killed anyone they could locate, including four dead bodies lying next to a burning home at one intersection, and 19 corpses strewn across a single roadway. “Men, women, and a three-year-old child,” he remarked.
The actual death toll wasn’t known until over a week after the incident, but it’s estimated that at least 115 individuals were shot or stabbed to death, including elderly people and infants.
Experts have referred to the October 3rd rampage as one of the deadliest mass murders in Haiti in decades, surpassing the massacre of over 70 residents in the La Saline neighborhood of Port-au-Prince in 2018.
UN principal specialist on human rights in the Caribbean nation, William O’Neil, claims to have observed a pattern in the gang’s “concerted, intentional” annihilation of human life in Pont-Sondé. He believes the slaughter was intended to serve a greater purpose, to send a message to the UN-backed international security force and Haiti’s recently established interim government, which are working to bring order back to the country after months of turmoil.
Garry Conille, the new prime minister of Haiti, has also urged the gangs to lay down their guns and recognize the authority of the state. However, his request has not yet been answered, and the gangs seem to have momentarily retreated in recent months, possibly to assess the impact of the foreign force.
The massacre has raised concerns about the progress made in stabilizing the country, as most of Haiti’s capital is still controlled by gangs, and there are still occasional clashes within and surrounding the city. Despite the presence of hundreds of Kenyan police, some marketplaces and schools have reopened, and a semblance of stability has been maintained.
However, the tragedy has cast doubt on the perception of the country’s security situation, and experts have warned that the gangs are not just limited to Haiti’s capital but also control significant portions of the country, including the Artibonite Valley, one of the country’s most significant agricultural centers.
The mayor of Saint-Marc, Myriam Fièvre, has spoken of the fear and uncertainty that grips the people, saying, “We live in constant fear.” The gang responsible for the slaughter, Gran Grif, has been linked to a string of criminal activities, including murder, rape, robbery, and destruction of property.
In an effort to stem the violence, the UN has called for international support for the multinational security force, but so far, it has received only a fraction of the estimated £450 million needed to fund its operations. Without sufficient resources, the mission is like a physician attempting to operate on a patient for heart surgery without the necessary equipment, prompting UN Secretary-General Joseph E. O’Neil to express concerns about the mission’s success.
Conclusions:
* The massacre in Pont-Sondé is one of the deadliest mass murders in Haiti in decades.
* The gang responsible, Gran Grif, has been linked to a string of criminal activities.
* The UN has called for international support for the multinational security force to stem the violence.
* The mission faces significant challenges, including inadequate funding and equipment.
FAQs:
* Q: How many people were killed in the massacre in Pont-Sondé?
A: At least 115 individuals were shot or stabbed to death.
Q: What was the motive behind the massacre?
A: The UN believes the gang’s “concerted, intentional” annihilation of human life was intended to send a message to the UN-backed international security force and Haiti’s recently established interim government.
Q: What is the current security situation in Haiti?
A: Despite some progress, most of Haiti’s capital is still controlled by gangs, and there are still occasional clashes within and surrounding the city.
Q: How can the international community support the stability efforts in Haiti?
A: The UN has called for international support for the multinational security force, but it is crucial to provide adequate funding and resources for the mission.
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