At Least 40 Killed in Armed Gang Attack on Displacement Camp in Kenscoff

At least 40 people were killed during the night of Sunday in an armed gang attack on the town of Kenscoff, located near Port-au-Prince, Haitian municipal authorities confirmed. Mayor Massion Jean told Agence France-Presse on Monday that approximately 40 bodies had been recovered so far, with search operations still ongoing and several individuals listed as missing.

The church-based displacement camp targeted

Jean described the incident as “a night of terror” in a region that has endured months of escalating violence by armed groups. He stated that gang members stormed a displacement camp situated within a church compound and executed multiple individuals. Dozens were killed or injured, and others were abducted.

Government response and security context

In a formal statement, the office of Prime Minister Alex Denis Fils-Aimé expressed “deep sympathy” for the victims and their families. The government also announced it would deploy additional security forces to restore order in Kenscoff.

For several months, Kenscoff has been the site of repeated clashes among rival armed groups competing to expand their territorial control. Haiti remains the poorest country in the Americas and has faced protracted political, economic, and security crises. In recent years, the situation has deteriorated sharply, marked by a surge in gang-perpetrated killings, abductions, sexual violence, and child recruitment.

Scale of internal displacement

According to estimates published by the International Organization for Migration in June, approximately 1.5 million people—out of a total population of roughly 11 million—have been internally displaced due to violence. The IOM noted that such attacks are not confined to the capital.

A multinational force to combat armed gangs is currently being established under United Nations support, intended to bolster local police units that have become increasingly unable to contain the crisis.