Armed Gangs Attack Church Shelter in Haiti, Leaving 47 Dead

At least 47 people were killed and 22 others injured during a violent raid by the Viv Ansanm gang coalition in the Kenscoff commune near Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The attack, which began on the night of August 23 and continued into the following morning, targeted a worship center belonging to the evangelical Church of the Ark of the New Covenant. The facility had been serving as a refuge for families displaced by ongoing regional violence.

Reports regarding the number of abductions vary, with some sources citing more than 50 people kidnapped during the raid. Survivors described a scene of destruction in which gang members torched homes, vehicles, and livestock. U.N. officials noted that at least 22 of the fatalities occurred as victims were executed inside the church compound.

In response to the massacre, the Haitian government has deployed security reinforcements to Kenscoff, vowing to restore order and neutralize the armed groups. While the nation faces a deepening security crisis, church leaders have emphasized the necessity of continuing their mission despite the escalating risks to both clergy and the displaced populations they serve.