The Prime Minister of Haiti, Garry Conilleexpressed this Friday his indignation and condemnation for the violent incursion perpetrated this Thursday by armed gangs, which has so far resulted in at least 54 fatalities, in the town of Pont Sondé, located between the municipalities of Saint-Marc and l’Estère, in the department of Artibonite, very close to the capital, Port-au-Prince.
“This attack, of indescribable brutality, caused tragic human losses and injured an unknown number of people. This new act of violencedirected against innocent civilians, is unacceptable and requires a urgent responserigorous and coordinated by the State,” said Conille about the event perpetrated by members of the armed gang “Gran Grif” of Savien.
The Prime Minister expressed his deepest condolence to the grieving families and assured them, as well as the injured and their loved ones, the unwavering support of the government in these dark hours.
“Today, once again, we face the cowardice more absolute. A brutal attackfor no reason, beat innocent citizens in Pont Sondé. “This atrocious crime, perpetrated against defenseless women, men and children, is not only an attack against these victims, but against the entire Haitian nation,” he stressed.
The official told those who plant the terror that “they will not break our determination. You will not subjugate these people who have always fought for their dignity and freedom. “We will never give up our right to live in peace, security and justice.”
He indicated that the policesupported by international partners, is intensifying its intervention.
“To my Haitian brothers and sisters, I call on you to unit and the solidarity. We are a strong people, a people that knows how to unite again. Together we will build a future in which these acts of barbarism They will be nothing more than a dark memory,” he said.
How was the massacreWhat was announced?
The community of Pont-Sondé, a town in the fifth section of Saint-Marcin Artibonitelocated on national highway number 1, lived hours of terror the night of Wednesday October 2 to Thursday October 3, 2024, under the murderous bullets of the bandits by Savien.
Besieged by the Great Grif’s gang, the population From the different streets, men and women, children, young people and adults, screamed desperately until dawn.
The day before the tragedy, an audio message from the leader of the band Savien announced the event, according to the Haitian newspaper. Le Nouvelliste.
People escaped from bandits
Thousands of population They had to leave the city of Pont-Sonde, located about 100 kilometers north of the capital of Haiti, to take refuge in the coastal city of Saint-Marc.
Concentrated in the Philippe Guerrier public square and in front of the hospital Saint-Nicolas de Saint-Marcthousands of survivorswho fled their homes to escape the massacreexpressed their gonna against the government authorities of the country.
The killing of Pont-Sondé shook the entire department of Artibonitewhich depended largely on local popular resistance.
Government launches great operational against bandits
Faced with this dramatic situation, the government immediately took all necessary measures to strengthen the capabilities of the hospital public Saint-Nicolas de Saint-Marcwhere a large number of injured. Additional logistical and medical resources are being mobilized to ensure rapid and optimal care for victims.
The Haitian National Police (PNH) is stepping up its efforts. Agents of the Temporary Anti-Gang Unit (UTAG) were deployed as reinforcements to support the teams already present on the ground, thus intensifying operations to locate active gangs in the area. Artibonite.
In addition, specialized units of the PNHsupported by the forces of the Multinational Security Mission (MSS), left Port-au-Prince the night of October 3 to 4 to go to the department of Artiboniteat the junction of the Canaan highway. Other specialized units are preparing to be deployed from Port-au-Princetransported by helicopters government Haitian to further strengthen the ongoing operation.
