By Michelle Ndaga
At least eight children were killed and six others seriously injured after explosive drones struck a birthday party in Cité Soleil, a densely populated slum in Haiti’s capital, on Saturday night.
The party was reportedly organized by gang leader Albert “Djouma” Steevenson and included the distribution of gifts to children. Witnesses said the first drone hit as children played outside, followed by a second strike moments later, leaving many civilians dead and others badly wounded.
Local human rights groups confirmed the use of explosive-packed drones, part of a controversial government campaign to dismantle armed gangs that have terrorized Port-au-Prince for months.
Authorities have not publicly commented on the operation, and it remains unclear which state agency authorized the strike.
Among the dead was four-year-old Merika Saint-Fort Charles, whose grandmother described rushing the child to hospital only for her to die on the way. “They were just playing, then there was an explosion,” one resident told reporters, voicing outrage at the civilian toll.
The Haitian government began deploying attack drones in March 2025 with technical support from private security contractors, aiming to regain control of gang-dominated neighborhoods.
However, human rights advocates warn the strikes risk worsening the humanitarian crisis and call for greater transparency and accountability.
Haiti has seen a surge in violence this year, with gangs controlling much of Port-au-Prince, displacing thousands of families and cutting off key roads. Saturday’s tragedy has renewed debate over the risks of using drones in heavily populated areas.
Source: Associated Press, Al Jazeera
