Haiti church burns as gang kills 47 in farming area, UN says

Armed gang members attacked the Kenscoff farming community near Haiti’s capital on Sunday night into Monday morning, killing at least 47 people and wounding 22, according to the United Nations. The gang members also set fire to homes and other buildings. One of the buildings they attacked and destroyed was an evangelical church, Church of the Ark of the New Covenant, according to Catholic missions group Agenzia Fides. Before the attack, displaced people were sheltering inside the church, according to the missions group.

The Haitian government said it was sending security reinforcements to the area to hunt down gang members and protect locals. The Kenscoff area remained relatively peaceful during years of unrest in the country. More recently, it has become a frequent target as armed groups sought to expand their reach beyond the capital city of Port-au-Prince, according to the UN.

The news came as the UN released a disturbing report Tuesday on violence in Haiti. Officials said at least 1,408 people were killed and 656 injured from April to June. Gang attacks accounted for over half of all the deaths and injuries.

Security efforts from police and the UN-approved Gang Suppression Force helped curb gang activity in some areas of Port-au-Prince. But violence sharply increased in other neighborhoods while rival gangs clashed, according to the UN. More than 18,000 people were displaced due to the fighting, while healthcare, education, and other services ended in those areas. Security forces also sometimes killed bystanders while targeting gangs, especially during operations using explosive drones. At least 95 people not associated with gangs were killed, and six children were killed or hurt by the drones. Kidnapping, rape and other forms of gang violence were also widespread, according to the UN.

Dig deeper: Read Josh Schumacher’s report on how Haitians in the United States are grappling with the coming end of their temporary protected status.