mother and child set on fire in haiti
Mother and Child Set Ablaze in Haiti as Gang Violence Escalates
By Shanice Fils-Aime
Port-au-Prince, Haiti – A wave of deadly gang violence has left Haiti’s capital reeling after a brutal attack in the Delmas 30 neighborhood on February 25, 2025. Among the victims of the assault, a woman and her child were set on fire, a horrifying act that has sent shockwaves through the community and highlighted the worsening security crisis in the country.
Eyewitnesses reported that armed gangs stormed the area, unleashing chaos and terror as they indiscriminately attacked residents. In the midst of the violence, the woman and her child were targeted and burned alive. The gruesome killing underscores the extreme brutality that has become increasingly common in Haiti, where armed groups wield growing influence and terrorize civilians with impunity. Residents who witnessed the attack described the horrifying scene as an act of pure savagery, with the community left paralyzed in fear.
The attack was part of a larger coordinated assault that left at least 15 people dead, forcing hundreds of residents to flee their homes in search of safety. Families carried whatever belongings they could manage, desperately seeking refuge as law enforcement struggled to respond to the escalating crisis. With police forces underfunded and often outmatched by the heavily armed gangs, many communities in Port-au-Prince have been left to fend for themselves. Aid organizations report that the number of displaced individuals is growing, with many living in makeshift shelters with little access to food, clean water, or medical care.
Haiti has seen a significant rise in violence, with women and children often bearing the brunt of the brutality. Reports from human rights organizations indicate that gender-based violence and targeted attacks against vulnerable populations are escalating, leaving many with nowhere to turn for protection. The killing of the woman and her child in such a barbaric manner is a stark reminder of the lawlessness that has gripped the nation. Many fear that unless drastic measures are taken, Haiti’s women and children will continue to suffer disproportionately, as gangs expand their territorial control with little resistance.
The international community has expressed concern over the worsening crisis, but meaningful interventions have been slow to materialize. While the United Nations has called for stronger efforts to curb the violence and provide humanitarian aid, local advocacy groups argue that urgent and direct intervention is needed to prevent further atrocities. Meanwhile, displaced families face an uncertain future, with limited access to food, water, and medical care as they attempt to escape the ongoing bloodshed. Community leaders are calling for the Haitian government to take immediate action, but many remain skeptical that authorities have the resources or ability to restore order.
As Haiti’s security situation deteriorates, advocates continue to call for urgent international assistance and stronger measures to protect civilians—especially women and children, who remain the most vulnerable in this escalating conflict. Without swift and decisive action, more innocent lives will be lost, and the humanitarian crisis will only deepen. The tragic deaths of the mother and child in Delmas 30 serve as a devastating reminder of the urgent need for intervention before more families are torn apart by violence and lawlessness.
