At least 47 people were killed and more than 50 kidnapped after armed men attacked a community near Haiti’s capital earlier this week, the United Nations (UN) said on Tuesday. The assault is believed to be one of Haiti’s largest mass kidnappings in recent years. Kenscoff resident Marc Paul, 42, said his brother, stepmother, stepfather and two cousins were among those kidnapped.
His 16-year-old niece was also abducted and raped before managing to escape and reunite with him. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack, saying 22 of the victims were reportedly executed in a church compound where they had sought shelter. The attack has raised fresh concerns over security in Haiti, shattering hopes that conditions in the Caribbean country were improving.
Some survivors accused the government of not providing enough protection prior to the attack, with Haiti’s National Police rejecting those accusations. Sunday’s assault was the largest to date. Armed groups control an estimated 70% of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, as well as large areas of the country’s central region and beyond.
Gang violence has displaced a record 1.5 million people across Haiti, while more than 3,050 people were killed between January and June, according to UN figures released on Tuesday. Nearly 800 cases of rape were reported between April and June, 87% of which were gang rapes. At least 81 people were also kidnapped during the same period, the UN said.
The number of kidnappings reported from April to June represents a more than 40% increase compared with the previous quarter.
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