Collapse of public administration

An armed gang attack on the Haitian town of Preval has left at least 50 people dead, including children and an elderly pastor, in one of the deadliest assaults amid the countrys escalating security crisis.They were killed when an armed group stormed the town of Preval in central Haiti, local media reported, citing foreign news sources.The attackers set homes on fire, looted a church, and killed civilians in what witnesses described as a brutal massacre.Among the victims was 86-year-old Pastor Jocques Brutus, who was reportedly beheaded by the assailants at Maranatha Church.At least 50 bodies were found. Reaching the massacre site is almost impossible because the gangs still hold control. Fourteen of the bodies were found decapitated and burned, a witness told Spains EFE news agency.The group is believed to be operating under the name Self-Defense Coalition, according to preliminary reports.The Haitian Bishops Conference expressed deep sorrow over the killings and called on authorities to take swift and decisive action.Haiti has been mired in a worsening crisis, with most of the capital, Port-au-Prince, now under gang control.More than 11 million people face food insecurity, according to humanitarian agencies.In 2024 alone, gang-related violence claimed over 5,600 lives, United Nations figures show.