Haiti is facing another devastating outbreak of gang violence after an overnight attack on the hillside community of Kenscoff left at least 47 people dead and 22 others injured, according to the United Nations.

The attack began late Sunday night in Kenscoff, a community overlooking the capital of Port-au-Prince that has increasingly become a target for armed groups.

Initial estimates from Haitian human-rights organization RNDDH placed the death toll between 30 and 40, but the United Nations later reported at least 47 deaths. Authorities warn that the final number could still change as searches continue.

Armed Men Attacked Homes and a Church

Gunmen reportedly entered Kenscoff around 10:30 p.m., attacking residents and setting homes on fire.

A church was among the locations targeted during the assault, according to the Associated Press. Properties belonging to prominent Haitian physician Dr. Jean “Bill” Pape were also attacked.

For some families, the losses are staggering.

One local farmer told the Associated Press that 14 members of his family had been killed, while an unknown number of other relatives remained missing.

Kenscoff Mayor Jean Massillon described difficulties accessing parts of the community and communicating with residents, making it difficult for authorities to immediately determine the full scale of the attack.

Residents Demand Answers

The massacre has also triggered anger among residents who say security forces have failed to protect Kenscoff from repeated attacks.

Some residents called for the local police chief to resign, saying victims were killed only minutes away from a police station.

Haiti’s government condemned what it called a “heinous attack” and promised to deploy additional security forces to the area.

National Police chief Vladimir Paraison visited Kenscoff following the massacre and defended the police response, saying officers had continued fighting the attackers.

Kenscoff Has Been Attacked Repeatedly

The latest massacre isn’t an isolated incident.

Kenscoff has suffered roughly a dozen gang attacks since last year as armed groups expand their influence beyond Port-au-Prince.

During a period of attacks in early 2025 alone, more than 260 people were killed, approximately 200 homes were destroyed or burned and around 3,000 people were forced to flee, according to United Nations estimates cited by Reuters.

The community’s location makes it particularly important.

Kenscoff overlooks routes leading toward Pétion-Ville, an area containing several foreign embassies, hotels and Haiti’s temporary seat of government. It also sits near an important route connecting Port-au-Prince with southern Haiti.

Haiti’s Gang Crisis Continues

The massacre comes as Haiti continues to struggle with one of the world’s most severe security and humanitarian crises.

Armed gangs are estimated to control approximately 70% of Port-au-Prince, while around 1.5 million Haitians have been displaced amid the ongoing violence.

A U.N.-backed Gang Suppression Force is expected to eventually reach more than 5,500 personnel as international efforts continue to strengthen Haiti’s overwhelmed security forces.

But the latest attack raises another major question: whether Haiti will be secure enough to hold national elections currently planned for December.

They would be the country’s first general elections in more than a decade.

For the families of Kenscoff, however, the immediate concern isn’t politics.

It’s burying loved ones, finding those still missing and wondering whether their community can be protected from another attack.