Haiti’s Breadbasket Region Under Siege By Ruthless Armed Gangs

A horrifying attack shook Haiti when armed gang members stormed through a town in the country’s key farming region, killing at least 70 people and forcing over 6,000 to flee their homes. This brutal attack happened in the early hours of Thursday in Pont-Sonde, a town in the Artibonite region, known as Haiti's breadbasket because of its agricultural importance. The gang, led by a notorious leader named Luckson Elan, claimed responsibility for the massacre, saying it was revenge for the locals not resisting while the police and vigilante groups killed his men.

As the gang moved through the town, they set fire to homes and vehicles, causing destruction and panic. Local officials described the scene as one of the deadliest in recent years, even in a country like Haiti, which has grown used to violence but never on this scale. The United Nations said that more than 6,000 people had to leave their homes, seeking refuge in nearby towns like Saint-Marc or in makeshift camps. Most of th...