Haiti gang raid death toll rises to 47 as more than 50 kidnapped, says UN

UN chief Guterres said the attack underscores ‘the alarming security situation in Haiti’ due to gangs.At least 47 people were killed, more than 50 others kidnapped, and another 22 people injured in a gang raid near Haiti’s capital of Port-au-Prince, the United Nations has said, prompting anger over violence amid repeated deadly attacks.UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday condemned the attack in the town of Kenscoff, which took place on the evening of August 23.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4UN chief blames global indifference for Haiti crisislist 2 of 4A lifetime in the making: Haitians in the US celebrate World Cup returnlist 3 of 4Will the end of TPS for Haitians mean a caregiving crisis in US?list 4 of 4Brutal gang attack on strategic Haiti hillside leaves at least 30 deadend of listIt is believed to be one of the largest mass kidnappings in Haiti in recent years, and comes as Haiti hopes to hold its first general election in more than a decade.Guterres said in a statement that the event underscores “the alarming security situation in Haiti and reinforce[s] the urgent need to intensify Haitian and international security efforts to combat gangs”.Jean Massillon, Kenscoff’s mayor, said armed men “sowed chaos” as they set homes on fire and killed residents. He said gang members targeted a church and homes, including that of Jean William Pape, a leading public health expert.Massillon blamed the attack on members of Viv Ansanm, a group that was designated as a “foreign terrorist organisation” by the United States government last year.The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti has said estimates of casualties could change.Even as Haiti’s government decried a “heinous attack” and promised to reinforce security, residents demanded the local police chief step down, saying officers failed to protect people killed a short distance from the police station.Kenscoff resident Marc Paul, 42, said gangs kidnapped his brother, stepmother, stepfather and two cousins. He said his 16-year-old niece was also captured and raped but was able to escape and has reunited with him.