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Gang coalition attacks farming community near Haitian capital

Armed men raided Kenscoff late Sunday, setting fires and killing residents, according to local officials.

The short version

  • Members of the Viv Ansanm gang coalition attacked the farming community of Kenscoff near Port-au-Prince, killing residents and burning homes.
  • Local Mayor Jean Massillon confirmed the raid targeted residences and a church, but an exact death toll remains unknown due to access issues.
  • The surge in gang violence comes as Haiti prepares for scheduled December elections and follows a recent U.S. deportation flight.

Key facts

  • Armed men associated with the Viv Ansanm gang coalition raided the community of Kenscoff late Sunday, setting fire to homes and a church.[Associated Press]
  • Mayor Jean Massillon stated that communication and access difficulties have made establishing a definitive death toll impossible.[Associated Press]
  • Properties belonging to prominent physician Dr. Jean "Bill" Pape were among those targeted during the attack.[Associated Press]
  • Gangs control approximately 70% of Port-au-Prince, and violence in Haiti has displaced a record 1.5 million people.[Associated Press]
  • United Nations data indicates that more than 3,100 people were killed in Haiti between January and June.[Associated Press]

What remains uncertain

  • The total number of casualties from the Kenscoff attack remains unverified due to ongoing access and communication barriers.[Associated Press]

Sources