• Gang violence in Haiti has led to the deaths of at least 70 people over the weekend.
• The Gran Grif gang attacked Petite-Rivière de l'Artibonite, causing mass destruction and fear.
• Thousands are displaced, with humanitarian organizations struggling to assess the situation.

Over the weekend, horrific gang violence in Haiti's Petite-Rivière de l'Artibonite resulted in at least 70 confirmed deaths, though initial reports varied widely, estimating fatalities from 16 to 80. The attacks were carried out by the notorious Gran Grif gang, which engaged in "brutal and coordinated" assaults on residents, with UN officials calling for immediate support to combat this violence, emphasizing the urgent need for intervention, according to Le Monde and Africanews.

The Gran Grif gang's assault not only led to mass casualties but also displaced an estimated 6,000 people, as locals fled the violence. Witnesses recounted scenes of terror, with gang members reportedly setting homes ablaze and blocking escape routes. "The area is completely deserted," stated Bertide Horace from an activist group, illustrating the extent of control exerted by gangs in the region, according to BBC and Africanews.

Human rights groups have struggled to communicate and provide accurate updates from the affected areas due to the gangs' dominance and ongoing violence. Activists have reported missing persons, and estimates suggest the gang may have killed as many as 70 individuals this weekend alone. The Haitian National Police, supported by a U.N.-backed mission, faced significant challenges entering these gang-controlled territories as they work to restore order, according to Africanews and Le Monde.

This incident marks a continuation of the pervasive violence that has plagued Haiti for years, with a significant rise in the frequency and brutality of gang attacks. The United Nations reported that from March 2025 to January 2026, over 5,500 fatalities linked to gang violence were documented. The situation has escalated to such an extent that over 90% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, remains under gang control, underpinning the crisis faced by the Haitian populace, according to BBC and Le Monde.