WASHINGTON, DC – Concerns are mounting over Haiti’s worsening security situation after at least 47 people were reportedly killed in a gang attack in Kenscoff, a community on the outskirts of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
The United Nations Secretary-General has condemned the latest violence, which reportedly took place during the night of August 23.
According to the UN, at least 22 of those killed were reportedly executed inside a church compound where they had sought refuge.
The latest attack has renewed concerns about the deteriorating security situation in Haiti, where heavily armed gangs continue to target communities and civilians.
The Secretary-General said the relentless attacks and growing loss of life underscore the urgent need for Haitian authorities and the international community to step up security efforts to counter the gangs.
He also reiterated his call for Haitian authorities to ensure that those responsible are held accountable, including through specialized judicial units recently established with international support to investigate mass crimes.
Meanwhile, UN humanitarian teams on the ground are working with local communities and authorities to verify reports of the latest killings and assess the needs of people affected by the violence.
The scale of the crisis is reflected in the UN Integrated Office in Haiti’s latest figures, where reports between April and June 2026 show that at least 1,408 people were killed and another 656 injured in violence across Haiti.
Gang attacks accounted for more than half of the killings and injuries recorded during that period.
The UN is urging the international community to keep Haiti high on the international agenda and to accelerate the full deployment of the Gang Suppression Force.
It is also calling for progress in investigations into mass crimes and stressing that any use of force by law enforcement officers, or others acting on behalf of the State, must comply with international human rights law.
The latest killings add to the growing pressure on Haitian authorities and international partners to confront the gangs and protect communities caught in the worsening violence.
