PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — In a violent week for the coastal town of Arcahaie, approximately 50 suspected gang members lost their lives during assaults on the area, including at least a dozen who perished when their boat capsized, as reported by a government official on Thursday.
These fatalities were primarily the result of confrontations with police, while the drowning incident occurred when gang affiliates attempted to transport ammunition for their attacks and struck a reef. This information was confirmed by Wilner Réné, an official from Haiti’s Civil Protection Agency.
The rampage commenced on Monday, with gunmen setting ablaze homes and vehicles in Arcahaie, a town situated just northwest of Port-au-Prince, the capital. Réné mentioned during an interview with Radio Caraïbes that as the gangs ran low on ammunition, they took refuge in surrounding areas, but were eventually located by vigilant residents and law enforcement.
The violence continues, with Réné stressing the urgent need for additional support from soldiers and specialized police units for the officers currently on the ground. This wave of violence has been attributed to a coalition of gangs known as Viv Ansanm, which has also directed its threats toward neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince over the recent days.
The increase in gang-related incidents comes shortly after the initiation of a mission supported by the United Nations, which involves police from Kenya aimed at degrading the gang presence. These criminal groups are reported to control more than 80% of Port-au-Prince, precipitating a humanitarian crisis that has left over 700,000 individuals homeless and resulted in thousands of deaths. Earlier this year, the primary airport in the country was shuttered for nearly three months due to widespread unrest.
Both top officials in Haiti and representatives from the U.S. government have expressed concerns over the Kenyan-led initiative’s limitations in personnel and financial resources, advocating for a transition to a United Nations peacekeeping force instead.