The provisional toll of the Pont-Sondé massacre (Bas Artibonite) Thursday, October 3rd https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43341-haiti-flash-massacre-in-pont-sonde-at-least-50-victims.html is increasing and now stands at nearly 100 victims, including more than 70 killed and at least 23 injured received at the Saint Nicolas Hospital, 8 of whom had to undergo emergency surgery.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, through its spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan, says it is "horrified" by the attacks on Thursday in Pont Sondé, in the Artibonite department, members of the "Gran Grif" gang, armed with automatic rifles, fired on the population, killing at least 70 people, including about 10 women and three infants.

During these attacks, at least 45 houses and 34 vehicles were set on fire...

Prime Minister Garry Conille visited the victims of the attacks in Pont-Sondé at the Saint-Nicolas Hospital (HSH) in Saint-Marc. The opportunity for the Head of Government to sympathize with the victims' families and express his deepest indignation at these inhumane acts. Conille said he strongly condemned this attack "This new act of violence, targeting innocent civilians, is unacceptable and requires an urgent, rigorous and coordinated response from the State."

Following this tragedy, several measures were taken by the Ministry of Public Health and others are underway to provide assistance to victims and displaced persons :

• Mobilization of the Artibonite Health Directorate;

• Mobilization of materials and medicines at the Departmental Input Supply Center for the two health structures involved in the care (HSN and First Level Health Structures - SSPE);

• Assessment of specific needs for rapid identification of additional resources to be mobilized;

• Provision of stocks of emergency kits prepositioned in the region.

In a note, the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT) expresses its deep indignation following "the barbaric attack perpetrated by armed gangs in Pont Sondé".

"Faced with this situation of unbearable terror, the Presidential Transitional Council extends its most sincere condolences to the families of the victims and stands by their side in this ordeal."

The CPT takes note of the prompt deployment of law enforcement on the ground to counter terror in the affected area.

Agents from the Temporary Anti-Gang Unit (UTAG) were deployed as reinforcements to support the teams already on site conducting operations on the ground. Specialized units of the National Police, accompanied by Kenyan police officers from the Multinational Security Mission, left Port-au-Prince on the night of October 3rd to 4th to travel to the Artibonite department via the Canaan road. Other specialized units traveled to the Artibonite by helicopter from the Haitian government to reinforce the ongoing operations.

Download the RNDDH report on the Pont Sondé massacre : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/2_CP_Pont_Sonde_04Octobre2024.FR.pdf

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43341-haiti-flash-massacre-in-pont-sonde-at-least-50-victims.html

SL/ TB/ HaitiLibre