(2025-04) Rapò Flash: Gwo Bilan Imanitè Akòz Atak Gang Nan Kenscoff ak Kafou, Ayiti

HAITI FLASH REPORT APRIL 2025 SUMMARY For more than two months, the rural areas of Kenscoff and some neighborhoods of Carrefour, two communes in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, have been experiencing repeated attacks by criminal gangs. Between 27 January and 27 March 2025, these attacks resulted in serious human rights abuses. At least 262 people were killed (115 members of the population and 147 gang members), and 66 others were injured (59 members of the population and seven gang members) 1 . Eight members of the security forces were also killed (4) and injured (4). Gang members displayed extreme brutality, aiming to instill fear within the population. They executed men, women, and children inside their homes and shot others on roads and paths as they tried to flee the violence, including an infant. Sexual violence was also committed against at least seven women and young girls during the planning and execution of the attacks. The gangs also ransacked several homes and set fire to more than 190 of them. These attacks forced more than 3,000 people to flee their localities 2 . With limited human and logistical resources already deployed in several areas across the capital and the Artibonite department, specialized police units, accompanied by the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd’H) and the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, arrived in the area on 27 January, about five hours after the start of the attacks. Although this deployment was able to push back the gangs, they resumed their attacks on the localities of Belot, Bois d’Avril, and Godet on the morning of 3 February. Despite a quick response from security forces this time, the violence had already caused panic and led to further displacement of the population. The delay in the response of security forces on 27 January to the gang attacks, as well as statements from the Prime Minister and the Minister of Justice and Public Security, indicating that the authorities had received information about the preparation of these attacks several days prior to their execution, could highlight a lack of alignment between the national police leadership and the government. Some ministerial instructions issued in response to the attacks could be interpreted in this regard. 1 262 people were killed (203 men, 50 women, six boys, and three girls), and 66 others were injured (58 men and eight women). 2 International Organization for Migration (IOM) (10 February 2025). « Haïti — Suivi des urgences 55.1 – Mise à jour sur les déplacements suite aux attaques armées dans la commune de Kenscoff », available in French at https://dtm.iom.int/node/48966 At least 262 people were killed and 66 others injured, resulting in a heavy humanitarian toll during gang attacks aimed at expanding territorial control over Kenscoff and Carrefour HAITI FLASH REPORT APRIL 2025 Located to the south of Port-au-Prince, the mountainous commune of Kenscoff holds strategic importance as it overlooks the commune of Pétion-Ville, where many institutions, banks, commercial areas, and embassies are situated. These gangs would have also carried out these attacks to control the recently rehabilitated road between Kenscoff and Jacmel, the only relatively safe road alternative for accessing southern Haiti. Gaining control of this route would lead to severe travel restrictions and hinder humanitarian aid delivery operations in the southern part of the country. Finally, the possibility that these attacks are intended to destabilize the authorities by highlighting their inability to protect one of the most residential areas of the capital should not be dismissed. According to the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), between January 1 and 27 March 2025 (the latest available update at the time of publication), at least 1,518 people were killed and 572 injured 3 in Haiti due to attacks by gangs, operations by security forces, as well as acts of violence perpetrated by self-defense groups 4 and unorganized members of the population 5 . These figures are in addition to the 5,601 people killed and 2,212 injured in similar circumstances across the country in 2024 6 . 3 1,518 killed (1,295 men, 188 women, 27 boys, and eight girls) and 572 injured (477 men, 85 women, six boys, and four girls). 4 Self-defense groups are generally composed of residents from neighborhoods controlled by criminal gangs or under the threat of such groups. Alongside these self-defense groups, which have a certain level of coordination, spontaneous mobs have also engaged in acts of violence against suspected gang members, as well as anyone believed to have committed crimes. Their actions, fueled by the absence of State representatives and a sense of vulnerability to gang violence, constitute serious human rights abuses. 5 The information contained in this report is based on the human rights monitoring work conducted by BINUH and OHCHR, in accordance with its methodology. See: “Appendix: Methodology”. 6 Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) (7 January 2025), “Over 5,600 killed in gang violence in 2024, UN figures show”, available at https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/01/haiti-over- 5600-killed-gang-violence-2024-un-figures-show 66 injured Total: 328 262 killed Total: 328 261 men (79%) 9 children (3%) 58 women (18%) Total 2,090 1,518 killed 572 injured HAITI FLASH REPORT APRIL 2025 Map 1: Localities of Kenscoff affected by gang attacks, from 27 January to 27 March 2025 HAITI FLASH REPORT APRIL 2025 What happened in Kenscoff between 24 January and 17 February 2025? •According to sources from social media and the CSPN, gangs prepare an attack on Kenscoff. •The authorities of Kenscoff impose a curfew and set up three checkpoints on the roads. •On 18 and 25 January, a woman and a girl are raped in Bongard during the preparation of the attacks. Social media alerts, 24 January 24 •At 3 a.m., about a hundred members of the Gran Ravine, Ti Bois, and Village de Dieu gangs attack several areas of Kenscoff, including Belot, Bois Major, Bongard, Carrefour Bête, and Furcy. •31 members of the population are killed and 27 others injured, and around 70 houses are set on fire. Gang attack, 27 January Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4 Phase 5 •At 8 a.m., security forces are deployed to confront the gangs; at least 23 of them are killed and seven others are injured. •A woman is collectively raped by gang members in Pannye. •As the gangs retreat to their bases, they kill at least 30 people and injure 13 others in Carrefour. •The security forces remain stationed in several areas of Kenscoff. Resumption of police operations and continued gang reprisals, 28 January to 4 February The gangs suspend their attacks in Kenscoff while opening another front, 5 to 15 February •On 28 January, a new clash occurs between security forces and the gangs in Belot. •The gangs are pushed back from Belot, and, in retaliation, they attack Bois Major, where they kill six people. •On 3 January, and 2 and 3 February, two women and a girl are raped in Godet and Bongard by members of Grand Ravine. •On 3 February, about a hundred individuals from the 400 Mawozo gang are sent as reinforcements to Kenscoff. •On 4 February, during a new clash with security forces, 50 gang members are killed, and most of the others retreated to their strongholds. Resumption of gang attacks in Kenscoff, 6 to 26 February •The security forces remained deployed in Kenscoff. No major gang attacks are reported. •However, the gangs continued their abuses against residents, killing at least 14 people, including a one-month-old infant, in Bélot, Bête, Bongard, Godet, Furcy, and Viard. •On 8 February, a woman is raped in her residence by several gang members. •Between February 7 and 13, the Kraze Baryè gang opens another front by launching several assaults in Corlette, Meyotte, Métivier, and Pernier (Pétion-Ville). Five members of the population are injured, and seven others are kidnapped. •The security forces and self-defense groups repel Kraze Baryè, killing 54 of its members. •On 16 February, a new gang attack is launched in the areas of Furcy and Obléon (Kenscoff). •Four members of the security forces are killed, and two others are injured, while at least 18 gang members are killed. •During their retreat, the gangs kill a woman and her child in Godet (commune of Kenscoff). •On 26 February, the gangs once again invade Belot, Bois d’Avril, Godet, and Morne Boucan. The gangs continue their attacks to consolidate their control over Kenscoff, in the month of March Phase 6 • The gangs continue their attacks, forcing law enforcement to scatter. • 28 members of the population are killed and 4 are kidnapped. • At least 80 homes are set on fire and several hundred people flee. HAITI FLASH REPORT APRIL 2025 Timeline of incidents Phase 1: Information circulates on social media warning of an imminent gang attack on Kenscoff, since 24 January On 24 January, information shared by journalists and other local sources began circulating on social media, warning of an imminent gang attack on the commune of Kenscoff. This information indicated that between 75 and 100 armed individuals had already arrived in Kenscoff and were hiding on the hill across from Belot. Present among the population, gang members committed at least two rapes in Bongard between 18 and 25 January, while preparing for the attack. One of the victims was a 14-year-old girl who was attempting to leave the area after being alerted to the presence of the gangs in Kenscoff 7 . In response to this threat, the municipal authorities of Kenscoff implemented several preventive measures. On 25 January, a curfew was imposed from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., and carrying identification documents was made mandatory. The five active self-defense groups in Kenscoff, put on alert, increased their patrols in the area. At the same time, the police hierarchy reportedly instructed the Kenscoff police station and the sub-station in Fort Jacques, another locality in Kenscoff, to remain vigilant. Although the planned attack did not take place on 24 January, as warmed by the information circulating on social media, the increase in criminal activities in the following days, particularly armed robberies, heightened concerns among residents and municipal authorities, reinforcing suspicions about the preparation of a larger-scale offensive. In a disclosed phone conversation revealed by a local source, a Kenscoff police official reportedly assured his superiors that police patrols had been carried out in the areas of Godet, Furcy, and Robert after the alerts on 24 January, and that these areas had been secured. Phase 2: The Grand Ravine, Ti Bois, and Village de Dieu gangs attack Kenscoff, on 27 January According to the municipal authorities and local sources, the attacks began at approximately 03:00 a.m. on 27 January when approximately one hundred armed individuals, belonging to the gangs of Grand Ravine, Ti Bois, and Village de Dieu, raided the mountainous localities of Belot, Berthé, Bois Major, Bongard, Carrefour Bête, and Furcy. 7 The survivors received temporary housing, medical care, and psychological support, provided by a local organization. HAITI FLASH REPORT APRIL 2025 Upon entering the Carrefour Bête area, they fired and killed 12 people (five men, six women, and one boy). The victims were attacked indiscriminately, some inside their homes and others on the paths while trying to flee the violence. This tactic, frequently used by these gangs during their assaults, aimed to instill fear and force the population to flee. From Carrefour Bête, the gangs continued their advance towards Berthé, and by 07:00 a.m., they randomly killed 12 other members of the same family (seven men and five women). Two of the victims were shot near their home, while the bodies of the others were found inside their residence by members of a self-defense group. During the assaults, the gangs managed to occupy certain buildings, such as the premises of the Baptist Church of Kikwa, which were used as temporary bases. The way the attacks were carried out in certain areas indicates the planned nature of the assault. According to a local source, the gangs, partly composed of former prisoners who escaped from the national penitentiary and the Croix- des-Bouquets prison in March 2024, carried weapons and ammunition hidden in water and fuel containers. These containers were transported on the backs of donkeys to cross the hills undetected 8 . Between 03h00 and 08h00 a.m., gang members killed 31 people, injured 27 others 9 , and set fire to over 70 residences. 8 On 2 and 3 March 2024, several allied gangs, united under the coalition known as “Viv Asanm”, carried out coordinated attacks on the two main prisons in the capital, the National Penitentiary in Port-au-Prince and the Croix- des-Bouquets prison. These attacks led to the escape of approximately 4,600 detainees, representing the majority of the prison population, and rendered both facilities operationally unusable. Among the escapees were former gang leaders and other individuals convicted of serious crimes, many of whom would have rejoined the gangs after their escape. 9 31 people killed (15 men, 15 women, and one boy) and 27 injured (23 men and four women) Houses set on fire by gangs in Bois Major Source: OHCHR, Haiti HAITI FLASH REPORT APRIL 2025 At around 08:00 a.m. on 27 January, specialized police units were deployed to Belot, Carrefour Bête, Furcy, and Godet, including the Intervention Brigade (BI), the Research and Intervention Brigade (BRI), the Departmental Unit for Maintenance of Order (UDMO), the Temporary Anti- Gang Unit (UTAG), and the Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT). The Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd’H) and the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission were also part of the deployment. These security forces then engaged with the gang members, killing at least 23 of them and injuring seven others. In response, some gang members retreated to the localities of Carrefour Bête and Kikwa, where they took up positions in the premises of Maître Louissaint School and the Baptist Church. Supported by members of the Fort Jacques self-defense group, security forces continued their operation. During the exchange of gunfire, one self-defense group member was killed, and a police officer was injured. Throughout the day, the local hospital in Fermathe treated at least 14 men, all members of the population, who sustained gunshot wounds. Fleeing from Carrefour Bête and Kikwa and retreating to their strongholds in the southwest of Port-au-Prince, the gangs launched attacks on the populations of Barbe and Belot (Kenscoff commune), and the neighborhood of Clémenceau, in the locality of Procy (Carrefour commune). In these areas, they killed at least 30 people and injured more than 13 others 10 . According to witnesses who saw the incidents, the victims were attacked inside their residences, which were then ransacked. The collective rape of a 28-year-old woman was also documented. Additionally, around 40 houses were set on fire, and several dozen animals were stolen. After 27 January, the security forces, including the MSS, remained deployed in several areas, including Carrefour Bête, Furcy, Godet, and Viard, as well as in the town center of the commune of Kenscoff, to prevent further attacks. A temporary base of the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd’H) was also established in the locality of Obléon (commune of Kenscoff) to protect the telecommunications antennas located there. Phase 3: Resumption of police operations and continuation of gang reprisals against the population, between 28 January and 4 February On 28 January, a new confrontation took place between security forces and members of the Ti Bois gang, which had come from Beli (commune of Carrefour) to attack Belot. After being repelled by 10 30 people killed (11 men, 13 women, and six children, including three boys and three girls aged 5 to 13 years) and 13 others injured (nine men and four women) HAITI FLASH REPORT APRIL 2025 the police, members of this gang retreated towards Bois Major. Around 05:00 p.m., they entered a house, killing six people in retaliation for the police operations. They then set the house on fire, leaving the bodies inside. Between January 29 and February 2, while no other major incidents were reported in Kenscoff, as most gang members had withdrawn to surrounding forested areas, at least three cases of collective rape, involving individuals from the Grand Ravine gang, were documented (see box*). Similarly, in Carrefour on 2 February, members of the Ti Bois gang shot and killed three residents of the Kay Bab neighbourhood in Procy (Carrefour), as they attempted to return home, and burned their bodies with gasoline. The gang then burned their bodies using gasoline. The victims had fled the area on 27 January during the gang’s attack. Early in the morning on 3 February, the 400 Mawozo gang also sent around 100 men from the commune of Croix-des-Bouquets to reinforce the Grand Ravine, Ti Bois, and Village de Dieu gangs. However, due to the presence of security forces in the commune of Kenscoff, most gang members dispersed to the commune of Carrefour to spend the night. On the morning of 4 February, the gangs attempted further incursions but were met with resistance from security forces in Belot, Godet, Furcy, and Viard. During these clashes, at least 50 gang members were killed, while the others were forced to retreat once again to their strongholds. No casualties among members of the population were reported. The security forces maintained their positions to protect the localities of Kenscoff, particularly in response to the threats made on social media by Jimmy Chérizier, leader of the Delmas 6 gang and * On 30 January, a 41-year-old woman was collectively raped while breastfeeding her baby in the locality of Bongard. On 2 February, a 21-year-old woman was raped in her residence by several members of the Grand Ravine gang who were present in the area. On 3 February, a 16-year-old girl was collectively raped in the locality of Godet while attempting to flee the attacks. Her mother, who had a disability, had just been killed in their home by gang members. These three survivors received temporary housing, medical care, and psychological support provided by a local organization. HAITI FLASH REPORT APRIL 2025 spokesperson for the gang coalition Viv Ansanm. He had announced plans to seize control of Kenscoff and Pétion-Ville before 7 February 11 . Phase 4: The gangs suspend their attacks on the areas of Kenscoff while opening another front in Pétion Ville and committing abuses against members of the population. Between 5 and 15 February, security forces remained deployed in Kenscoff, particularly at the Maroka 1 and Fermathe crossroads, as well as in the localities of Carrefour Bête, Bélot, Godet, Furcy, and Viard. No notable confrontations with the gangs were recorded during this period. According to local sources, security force operations would have forced the gangs to reorganize. However, gang members continued their abuses against residents, raping at least one woman, and killing 14 people 12 . Some victims were trying to return to their homes after fleeing the 2 February attack. Others were accused of collaborating with the security forces and self-defense groups. Among these abuses was the killing of an infant just one month old (see box*). It is also important to note that during the same period, specifically between 7 and 13 February, the Kraze Baryè gang, which was not initially involved in the attacks on Kenscoff, launched several assaults in neighborhoods of Pétion-Ville, including Corlette, Meyotte, Métivier, and Pernier 40. However, the members of this gang were repelled by specialized police units and self-defense groups. During these confrontations, at least 54 members of the gang were killed. Furthermore, five men, members of the population, were also injured by stray bullets, and seven others were kidnapped by the gang before they left the area. 11 7 th February marks two key events. First, it commemorates the overthrow of Jean-Claude Duvalier in 1986, symbolizing the end of his dictatorship. Second, this day is traditionally the official date for presidential inaugurations in Haiti. 12 Ten men, three women, and a one-month-old child *On 12 February, in the late afternoon, Eliana, 28 years old, was holding her one-month-old infant in her arms and was trying to leave Kenscoff due to the violence from the gangs. As she crossed the Godet area, she encountered members of the Grand Ravine gang who had lit a fire to warm themselves against the cold. Under the threat of their weapons, the baby was forcibly taken from her arms and thrown into the fire. Eliana was unable to save her child from the flames. Terrified, she fled. On 14 February, weakened and deeply traumatized, Eliana was found wandering the streets of Delmas 103 by passersby. They quickly took her to the Pétion- Ville police station, where no emergency care was provided to her. She fell asleep on the ground, on a cardboard box. On the night of 14 February, she died on that cardboard box. Note from the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Gender Equality HAITI FLASH REPORT APRIL 2025 Phase 5: The gangs resume their attacks in Kenscoff, between 16 and 26 February On 16 February, around 03:00 a.m., the 400 Mawozo, Grand Ravine, Ti Bois, and Village de Dieu gangs launched an attack on the Protected Areas Security Brigade (BSAP) base located in the locality of Obléon (Kenscoff). This base housed BSAP members 13 , but also elements of the FAd’H, who had been deployed there since 27 January. During the exchange of fire, two BSAP officers and one FAd’H member were killed, and two other FAd’H members were wounded. Specialized police units quickly intervened, with MSS support, to repel and pursue the gangs. As they fled, at least 18 of their members were killed by security forces and self-defense groups in the Thomassin area (Pétion Ville commune). In retaliation, the gangs killed a woman and her child inside their home in the neighborhood of Godet, then they burned their bodies. The following day, 17 February, in the early afternoon, clashes between security forces and gang members resumed in the localities of Belot, Godet, Furcy and Viard, during which a UTAG agent was killed in Furcy. After a few days of relative calm, on 26 February, the gangs once again invaded the localities of Belot, Bois d’Avril, Godet, and Morne Boucan, forcing hundreds of people to flee, according to local sources. No casualties among the population were reported. However, at least 30 homes were ransacked and set on fire. Phase 6: The gangs continue their attacks throughout March to consolidate their control over Kenscoff. Throughout the month of March, the gangs continued their attacks on the commune of Kenscoff, specifically targeting the localities of Carrefour Badio, Bélot, Bongard, Boucan, Depanse, Gramot, and Viard. At least 28 members of the population were killed 14 , and four others were kidnapped 15 . Almost all of the victims (25 16 ) were killed during violent attacks carried out on 24, 25 and 27 March. During these three days, the gangs of Grand Ravine, Ti Bois, and Village de Dieu deliberately opened fire on members of the population trying to flee. Additionally, the victims of kidnapping were captured on 5 and 13 March in the commune of Bélot. 13 The Protected Areas Security Brigade (BSAP) is an entity under the Ministry of the Environment, responsible for ensuring the protection and security of Haiti’s national parks, protected areas and environmental reserves. 14 30 people were killed (17 men and 13 women) 15 Two men and two women 16 13 women and 12 men HAITI FLASH REPORT APRIL 2025 In addition to these incidents, a member of the MSS was injured, and two gang members were lynched by the population. At least 80 houses were set on fire, and several hundred people fled the areas of Carrefour Bête, Bélot, Bongard, and Viard. By creating multiple points of tension throughout the commune of Kenscoff and indiscriminately killing members of the population, including small vendors and farmers, the gangs spread panic and forced the security forces to scatter. Since 31 March, messages circulating on social media have raised alarms about a large number of gang members being spotted in the areas of Boucan, Depanse, Fermathe, Nan Croupi, and Thomassin. These attacks have exacerbated an already critical human rights situation, severely hampering access to essential services, while causing significant population displacement. According to the International According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), more than 3,000 people living in the commune of Kenscoff were displaced between January 27 and the end of March. The majority (66%) sought refuge with host families, while 34% went to three new sites established in the areas of Bongard and Sourcailles (Kenscoff). These attacks could also have an extremely serious economic and humanitarian impact. In addition to the deliberate destruction of homes and the theft of goods, the violence has severely disrupted agricultural production in a commune where a large portion of the population depends on farming for their livelihood, and which supplies several markets in the capital with fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, the takeover of the road leading to Jacmel poses a major risk to the delivery of emergency medical supplies and humanitarian aid to the south. Since the beginning of the attacks, humanitarian assistance and protection have been provided to displaced persons by several United Nations agencies, national non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and public service providers. As part of this support, the National Directorate of Potable Water and Sanitation (DINEPA) and UNICEF have set up potable water points, while IOM has distributed emergency shelter kits and non-food items. The World Food Programme (WFP) has provided hot meals for displaced persons accommodated in makeshift sites. Additionally, national NGOs have organized psychosocial support activities, and medical service providers have offered healthcare through mobile clinics. Due to the ongoing insecurity, at least one NGO had to suspend its activities in mid-February. These initiatives, however, remain insufficient in the face of the Impact of the attacks on the human rights and humanitarian situation HAITI FLASH REPORT APRIL 2025 extent the suffering and the psychological trauma experienced by survivors, particularly children, who have suffered or witnessed this violence, including sexual violence. National authorities The sequence of events in Kenscoff seems to indicate that, initially, the security forces failed to take adequate measures to prevent the first attacks, or to ensure the rapid deployment of specialized police units, despite reports of an imminent threat posed by gangs. However, after learning of a possible gang attack in the area, the few police officers at the Kenscoff police station took certain measures to identify the possible arrival of gang members. In particular, they set up three checkpoints on 23 February, at the Maroka crossroads, in front of the police station building, and then at the Fermathe crossroads. According to local sources, the attack began at 03:00 a.m. on 27 January, and security forces did not arrive until around 08:00 a.m. This means there was a five-hour gap between the start of the attacks and the response of the security forces, even though the targeted areas were about an hour away from the police stations in Kenscoff and Pétion Ville. It is important to note, however, that at the same time, the police’s specialized units, with limited human and logistical resources, were already operating in several areas of the capital and the Artibonite department, while securing strategic points. During a press conference, at the General Directorate of the National Police of Haiti (DGPNH), on 30 January, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé stated that the Superior Council of the National Police (CSPN) had been aware for several days of a possible gang attack in Kenscoff. In the same statement, he pledged to allocate additional resources to strengthen law enforcement operations aimed at restoring security. During a radio interview on 31 January 17 , the new Secretary of State for Public Security supported the Prime Minister’s statement and confirmed that the police had received intelligence regarding the attack. Although he acknowledged operational failures within the police, particularly regarding coordination, operational planning, and the overall approach to combating insecurity, he ruled out the possibility of taking administrative or disciplinary measures against the Director General of the National Police of Haiti. 17 Tele20 on YouTube (31 January 2025), « Le secrétaire d’Etat à la Sécurité publique Mario Andrésol sur la situation sécuritaire », available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcAlmscfUVQ Measures taken by the authorities to prevent and respond to attacks HAITI FLASH REPORT APRIL 2025 On 1 February, the Minister of Justice and Public Security instructed the Director General of the National Police of Haiti to mobilize all police units, utilize available resources, and implement the necessary measures to combat insecurity nationwide, with a particular focus on the capital, Port- au-Prince 18 . The following day, through a new directive, the Minister of Justice urged the Secretary of State for Public Security to “harmonize” his efforts in coordination with the General Inspectorate of the National Police of Haiti in monitoring and oversight activities and to report to the Superior Council of the National Police on a weekly basis. Since that date, specialized police units, along with the Haitian Armed Forces and the MSS, have been deployed in various localities and are conducting regular patrols. However, the large number of gang members who have infiltrated the area, combined with the lack of personnel in the security forces, have hindered the restoration of order and allowed the gangs to gradually strengthen their grip on the commune. As of 30 March, only one individual, suspected of being a member of the Grand Ravine gang, was arrested by the Central Directorate of the Judicial Police (DCPJ) in February. He is suspected of having facilitated the infiltration of gangs into the commune. No action had been taken by the Port- au-Prince prosecutor’s office to investigate these attacks or identify their perpetrators. The gang attacks appear to have two main objectives. First, they are part of a strategy aimed at entering Pétion-Ville from its southern side. The commune of Pétion-Ville, one of the last areas of the capital still outside gang control, remains a strategic target due to the presence of commercial zones, hotels, residential properties, and numerous banks. During the last two months of 2024 and in January 2025, several gangs attempted to infiltrate Pétion-Ville by attacking its northern neighborhoods. In November 2024, the Kraze Baryè gang launched a series of attacks on the neighborhoods of Cargo, Pernier, and Vivy Mitchell. Its members opened fire on residences, resulting in the death and injury of at least 21 people A significant incident also occurred on November 19, 2024, during a new attempt to infiltrate Pétion-Ville. On that day, a truck carrying gang members was intercepted by law enforcement on 18 Letter from the Ministry of Justice and Public Security addressed to the Secretary of State for Public Security, dated 2 nd February 2025, available at https://vantbefinfo.com/haiti-securite-le-mjsp-exige-la-mobilisation-generale-de-la- police-nationale-dhaiti/ Presumed motivations behind the attacks: control of Pétion-Ville and the Kenscoff road HAITI FLASH REPORT APRIL 2025 the Pan-American Avenue (Pétion-Ville). During the incident, at least 70 of the gang members were lynched by self-defense groups and the local population. Secondly, through these attacks, the gangs are attempting to assert control the recently rehabilitated Kenscoff road, the only relatively secure route leading to Jacmel and southern Haiti. Since the end of March, the gangs have succeeded in setting up checkpoints in the Kajak area, thereby extorting vehicles traveling on the Kenscoff road to and from Jacmel. HAITI FLASH REPORT APRIL 2025 Recommendations to the Haitian authorities: The Presidential Transition Council (CPT) and the Government: - Establish specialized judicial tasks forces (pôles judiciaires spécialisés) to combat crimes involving a large number of victims and sexual violence, with the aim of fighting impunity and ensuring that survivors have access to justice and reparations. - Strengthen, with the support of the international community, the availability of services for survivors of violence, including ensuring access to adequate mental health and psychosocial support. The judicial authorities: - Conduct investigations and prosecute individuals suspected of committing crimes during the Kenscoff attacks, particularly those involving serious human rights violations. The General Directorate of the National Police of Haiti: - Develop a comprehensive plan to regain territorial control of areas affected by gang violence and protect the population. - Strengthen the intelligence-gathering capabilities of the Haitian National Police (PNH) and ensure their integration into the planning and execution of operations in order to anticipate gang movements and actions. Recommendations to the International Community: - Continue the deployment, as authorized by the Security Council in its resolutions 2699 (2023) and 2751 (2024), of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) in Haiti, to assist the Haitian National Police in restoring security in the country, while fully respecting international law, including human rights. - Provide support to the Haitian authorities in the development and implementation of effective public policies to combat impunity. - In the context of Security Council resolutions 2653 (2022), 2700 (2023), and 2752 (2024), take urgent and stricter measures to prevent the supply, sale, or direct or indirect transfer of all types of arms and related materials to Haiti, from their territory or through their territory, or by their nationals, or by ships flying their flag or aircraft registered in their country. - Continue to update the list of individuals and entities subject to the Security Council sanctions regime in Haiti, particularly for having prepared, ordered, or committed acts in Haiti that violate international human rights law. - HAITI FLASH REPORT APRIL 2025 Annex: Methodology A. Data collection and verification process for the report “At least 236 people killed, and 69 others injured, with a heavy humanitarian toll during gang attacks aimed at expanding territorial control over Kenscoff and Carrefour” 1. The data collection process for this report followed a rigorous three-step documentation and verification procedure. The information was initially collected from primary sources, which are not disclosed for confidentiality and security reasons. This information was then cross-checked with that of independent third parties, including service providers not directly linked to the OHCHR sources, but who had access to individuals affected by the events. Finally, a third level of verification involved comparing and corroborating the collected data with reports from partner organizations to ensure the consistency and accuracy of the information. 2. The following provides a detailed presentation of the standards of evidence used, as well as a detailed description of the data collection and verification process. B. Standards of evidence 3. In accordance with the OHCHR methodology, the team applied the standard of reasonable grounds to establish the facts related to individuals, cases, incidents, and behaviors. These factual observations formed the basis for the legal classification of incidents and behaviors, characterizing them as violations or breaches of international human rights law. 4. The team determined that this standard was met when it was convinced that it had gathered a set of reliable and consistent information, corroborated by other sources, on the basis of which a reasonable and ordinarily prudent person would have grounds to believe that such an incident or behavior had indeed occurred. 5. When this report refers to a witness’s account, the team considered the statement to be truthful and relevant, in accordance with its assessment, unless otherwise indicated. Direct references to specific witness statements in this report should not be interpreted as indicating that these statements were the sole basis for the assessment regarding the issues addressed in the analysis. These references and direct quotations are included as examples or illustrations. C. Data collection and verification 6. Due to difficulties in accessing affected areas, the team conducted the majority of interviews by phone, taking measures to ensure their reliability while maintaining the confidentiality of the exchanges. 7. The team paid particular attention to the principle of “do no harm”, ensuring that all interactions with sources were carefully assessed to avoid any risk of negative impact on individuals and organizations. 8. The team also used information from open sources to conduct its investigations, including social media platforms (such as Facebook and WhatsApp). All this information was verified and cross- checked with secondary sources deemed credible and reliable.