Amnesty International: Haiti massacre highlights failure to protect civilians

Amnesty International says a recent massacre in Petite‑Rivière de l’Artibonite underscores what it describes as a widespread failure by authorities and the international community to protect Haiti’s population.

The attack, which occurred on March 29, 2026, in the Artibonite department, has been attributed to “Gran Grif,” one of the country’s most violent gangs.

In response, Astrid Valencia said the violence represents another tragedy in an ongoing cycle of insecurity.

“The massacre, reportedly carried out by ‘Gran Grif’, one of Haiti’s most violent gangs, is yet another tragedy in a long chain of crimes that the Haitian authorities and the international community have failed to stop,” Valencia said.

“This crime once again highlights the human cost of the authorities’ inability to protect the population, with human rights at the centre. There is an urgent need to establish conditions for sustainable security, including ensuring that all those suspected of criminal responsibility are brought to justice in fair trials.”

Although figures remain preliminary, authorities have confirmed at least 16 people were killed and 10 injured. However, the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Haiti reported that the death toll may be significantly higher, with at least 70 people believed to have been killed.

During the attack, at least 50 homes were burned and looted, and thousands of residents were forced to flee their homes, further worsening the humanitarian situation in the area.

Amnesty International said the latest violence underscores the urgent need for authorities to restore security and ensure accountability, warning that continued inaction risks further endangering civilians already facing worsening instability.