30 killed in mob attack in Port-au-Prince

Repeated attacks by a mob against residents in the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince district left 30 people dead, including 2 police officers, 4 missing and more than a dozen injured, according to a provisional assessment drawn up by a human rights organization. Until Thursday, August 17.

Since Tuesday, thousands of residents have fled the Carrefour-Fuels district, a strategic district for gangs that control large swathes of the impoverished country wracked by insecurity.

The gang behind the attack, led by Renal Destina (or De Laplie), looted and burned houses. Some of the victims were killed by automatic weapons.

An assessment of the violence in Carrefour-Feuilles was provided to Agence France-Presse (AFP) by the National Network for Human Rights (RNDDH). “This data was compiled after the testimonies of the parents and relatives of the victims we met”RNDDH Executive Director, Pierre Espérance explained.

One resident, Dominic Charles, told AFP he lost his mother, stepfather, his 18-year-old son, two sisters and a brother in the attacks.

“Cocktail Molotov”

“The attackers attacked our house with Molotov cocktails. I managed to escape, but other family members were not so lucky.”He said he was coming to testify at the headquarters of the RNDDH.

Since the beginning of the week, more than 5,000 people have been displaced by the violence, Haitian Civil Defense Director General Jerry Chandler said.

They left Carrefour-Feuilles on foot, on motorbikes or crammed into cars, some trying to carry a few personal belongings, suitcases on their heads or mattresses on car roofs. Among them, “Women, children, old people”Jerry Chandler explains.

Thousands of these displaced people have taken shelter in schools or sports centers, others on the street, with makeshift tents or without shelter. Officials announced on Thursday that they have started distributing hot food and drinking water to the victims.

Haiti has been mired in years of deep economic, security and political crisis, which has strengthened the grip of gangs. These armed gangs control 80% of the Haitian capital and violent crimes are frequent.