Dozens killed in Haiti’s capital as armed men break away from gang coalition in bid for power

SAN JUAN Puerto Rico AP Dozens of people in Haiti s capital have been killed in a clash between a powerful gang coalition and a group of armed men that apparently broke away from it with children among the casualties a local human rights group stated Tuesday Among those killed was D d one of the highest ranking gang members that operates in the Bel-Air slum of Port-au-Prince He was beheaded while powerful gang leader Kempes Sanon a former police officer was injured according to the Committee for Peace and Growth It wasn t right away clear how seriously Sanon was injured although numerous worry the attack that began in contemporary days will unleash even more violence in a city already controlled by gangs Sanon has been dethroned while receiving recovery for his injuries by two men who go by the names of Jamesly and Ti Gason according to the human rights group The ongoing attack is atypical because a large number of gangs banded together in September and broadcasted the formation of Viv Ansanm or Live Together a coalition that led to a drop in violence since armed groups agreed to no longer fight each other Before the attack Sanon and his gang were part of the Viv Ansanm coalition which the U S has designated as a foreign terrorist organization So far the human rights group has counted at least people killed burned and mutilated since Monday Among those are gang members children recruited by gangs and a man in his s who was struck by a stray bullet Nineteen women whose partners were gang members also were executed by the Krache Dife gang as they sought therapeutic attention for the men at a clinic the group mentioned Krache Dife which means Spit Fire is presumed to still be an ally of Sanon and a member of the Viv Ansanm gang coalition The number of people killed is expected to rise since the attack is ongoing and no executives or human rights groups have been able to access the area In a up-to-date review the United Nations noted that Sanon the injured gang leader has played a notable role in consolidating gang power in Port-au-Prince particularly through his involvement in the Viv Ansanm alliance which has launched coordinated attacks to expand gang-controlled territories Sanon also maintains a grid of individuals within governmental institutions including protection agencies which enables him to evade arrest and facilitate his criminal programs the U N assessment stated Hundreds of civilians are sheltering in place as the attack continues with concern growing about their ability to obtain food and other basic goods Hunger already was surging in Haiti s slums and beyond before the attack with more than half of the country s nearly million people experiencing predicament levels of hunger or worse The attack also is expected to further destabilize Haiti as it prepares for general elections next year with the country s transitional executive supposed to step down in early February