On Sunday night, armed members of the Viv Ansanm gang coalition descended on the farming community of Kenscoff, a hillside town just outside Port‑au‑Prince, Haiti. The attack left homes burned, a local church damaged, and a death toll that officials say remains uncertain because of limited access and communication challenges.
Mayor confirms raid and casualties
Kenscoff Mayor Jean Massillon told the Associated Press that the gang members entered the town late Sunday, setting fire to residences and opening fire on civilians. “It is still impossible to establish a definitive death toll due to access difficulties and communication problems,” Massillon said.
Wails filled the streets early Monday as survivors discovered bodies of friends and family strewn across the roads. Farmer Mathurin Pierre, 41, reported losing 14 loved ones and said an unknown number of residents remain missing.
Targeted sites and humanitarian impact
According to the mayor, the gang specifically targeted a local church and homes, including the residence of Dr. Jean “Bill” Pape, a well‑known physician who runs a non‑governmental organization providing care for patients with HIV and tuberculosis. The raid underscores the broader insecurity that has plagued Haiti’s capital region for years.
Viv Ansanm, the group blamed for the assault, was designated a foreign terrorist organization by the United States last year. The gang’s presence is part of a larger pattern: U.N. estimates indicate that gangs now control roughly 70% of Port‑au‑Prince, and repeated attacks on nearby Kenscoff have become commonplace.
Wider context of violence and displacement
Haiti has seen a record displacement of 1.5 million people due to gang violence. From January through June of this year, U.N. statistics recorded more than 3,100 killings and 1,189 injuries linked to gang activity. The latest attack adds to a grim tally that has left many Haitians fearing for their safety and their future.
The violence comes less than a week after the U.S. government deported more than 160 individuals to Haiti, marking the first large‑scale return since the Trump administration’s legal victory that ended Temporary Protected Status for roughly 350,000 Haitians.
Implications for upcoming elections
Haiti is slated to hold general elections on Dec. 13, the first national vote in more than a decade. Election officials have been registering voters in Port‑au‑Prince and surrounding areas, but experts warn that the pervasive insecurity makes it extremely risky to conduct a free and fair election.
International observers and the U.N.–backed gang suppression force have not yet commented on the latest attack, and a spokesperson for the force did not immediately return a request for comment.
Looking ahead
Local residents, faith leaders, and humanitarian groups are calling for increased security measures and greater international assistance to protect civilians and preserve the fragile hope of democratic renewal. As the death toll remains unconfirmed, the community of Kenscoff mourns its losses while confronting an uncertain future amid Haiti’s ongoing crisis.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
