PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Nine people were killed in a series of attacks by the Caribbean gangs in the town of Petite-Riviere, located in central Haiti, on Tuesday evening.
Bertide Horace, a spokeswoman for a community association in the Artibonite region, confirmed the incident, stating that Haiti has been grappling with escalating violence attributed to gangs.
The United Nations has released a recent report highlighting that gang-related violence in Haiti caused 1,745 casualties between July and September alone.
The report pointed out that the police have been accused of engaging in summary executions.
UNICEF has also issued warnings about the rising violence targeting vulnerable groups, including children.
The agency reported an increase in the number of women and children becoming victims of armed assaults linked to criminal gangs.
In the wake of the recent attack in Petite-Riviere, the focus remains on devising strategies to counter the growing influence of gangs.