Recently, a coalition of armed gangs launched a violent assault on the mountaintop villages surrounding us. Homes were set on fire, farmers and their livestock were killed, and thousands of innocent people were forced to flee with nothing but the clothes on their backs. “With gangs already controlling more than 90% of Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital, a takeover of Kenscoff would be catastrophic”, stated by Johnny Fils-Aimé of the Miami Herald
The attack, led by the powerful Viv Ansanm gang, has shown just how far their reach extends and how no one is immune to their brutality. These gangs arrived on horseback, armed with heavy ammunition, and took over a local church as their headquarters. In the chaos, at least 60 lives were lost, and more than 3,000 people were displaced. Many now seek shelter in churches, hospitals, and even the mayor’s office. This situation has underscored the failings of Haiti’s response, including the lack of planning, coordination and operations by the national police, whose director has come under increased scrutiny after the attack.
You may be wondering, why Kenscoff? Our town sits in a critical location southeast of Port-au-Prince, serving as the last road connection to Haiti’s southern regions, which have already been cut off due to gang control and the suspension of domestic flights. If these gangs gain control of Kenscoff, they would not only threaten the capital’s already fragile food supply but would also have a direct path to infiltrate the wealthy enclave of Pétion-Ville, one of the last remaining “safe” zones. Holding the line in Kenscoff is crucial—if the police, the army, and the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support mission can defend this community, it would strike a major blow to gang expansion at a time when Port-au-Prince is nearly overrun.
Because of the imminent danger, our main site was forced to close for two weeks in early February to limit movement in and out of the property and to keep everyone safe. The children in our crèche have been in “lockdown”, unable to attend school or church. Since the first attack, there has already been another attempt, but thanks to the efforts of the police and the local community, it was stopped before more harm could be done. We have backup plans in place in case we need to relocate the children and staff, but more than anything, we ask for your prayers—for protection, for peace, and for strength in the days ahead.
We are so grateful to God for His continued protection and to the Kenscoff community and police force, who have remained strong in the face of these terrifying attacks. Kenscoff’s mayor, Masillon Jean, told the Miami Herald that security forces have been deployed, and “we’re fighting to consolidate the efforts to reestablish security.”
Please know that your support means the world to us. We feel your prayers, and we rely on them now more than ever. Thank you for standing with us in this time of crisis.
With gratitude,
Chances for Children