Heavily armed gangs attacked Haiti’s central Artibonite region over the weekend. They killed men, women, and children and set homes on fire. Survivors fled into darkness to escape the violence. Police said 50% of Artibonite is now controlled by gangs after attacks in towns like Bercy and Pont-Sondé. One police union, SPNH-17, said, "The population cannot live, cannot work, cannot move. Losing the country’s 2 largest departments – West and Artibonite – is the greatest security failure in modern Haitian history." Most of Haiti’s police and UN-backed Kenyan officers are based in the capital, Port-au-Prince, which is also largely controlled by gangs. Guerby Simeus, a Pont-Sondé official, confirmed nearly 12 deaths, including a mother and her child and a government employee. He said, "The gangs are still in Pont-Sondé," and no new police had arrived. Many survivors escaped to Saint-Marc. Hundreds demanded the government act against the gangs who continue to attack the central region. Réné Charles, a survivor, said, "Give me the guns! I’m going to fight the gangs!" The crowd tried to break into the mayor’s office. One man told the Associated Press, "We’re going to take justice into our own hands!" Activist Charlesma Jean Marcos said the gang warned of its invasion last week but authorities did nothing. "For now, the only people really fighting (the gang) is the self-defense group," he said. Marcos urged survivors to sleep inside police stations and government offices for safety. He warned that aid cannot last forever as many will face hunger. More than half of Haiti’s population is already facing severe hunger. Gang violence blocks roads and has displaced 1.4 million people, a record high. The attacks started late Friday and Saturday. Gang members even livestreamed the violence on social media. The Gran Grif gang is blamed. It has a history of violence including an October 2024 attack in Pont-Sondé that killed at least 100. A man trapped inside during the attacks said, "Why don’t they send any drones to Artibonite? They just use the drones in Port-au-Prince. I feel this gang is special. They don’t want to destroy this gang." The national police did not immediately comment. Gran Grif’s leader, Luckson Elan, is sanctioned by the UN and US. Prophane Victor, a former lawmaker accused of arming youths, is also sanctioned. The UN reports killings have risen sharply in Artibonite and Centre this year, with 1,303 deaths from January to August, up from 419 in the same months of 2024. A recent UN report said, "These assaults underscore the capacity of gangs to consolidate control across a corridor from the Centre to the Artibonite amid limited law enforcement presence and logistical constraints."