UNITED NATIONS: More than 530 people have been killed in gang violence in Haiti this year, according to the United Nations (UN), with many of them killed by snipers shooting at random victims.
The UN human rights office expressed concern that extreme violence in Haiti was out of control. According to spokeswoman Marta Hurtado, gang clashes are becoming more violent and frequent as they attempt to expand their territorial control throughout the capital and other regions by targeting people who live in areas controlled by rivals.
Marta Hurtado told reporters in Geneva that, up until March 15 this year, “In gang-related incidents, 531 people were killed, 300 were injured, and 277 were kidnapped, primarily in the capital, Port-au-Prince. She claimed that gang clashes left at least 208 people dead, 164 injured, and 101 kidnapped in the first two weeks of March alone. She went on to say that the majority of the victims were killed or injured by snipers who were allegedly shot at random people in their homes or on the streets.
Stray bullets have struck teachers and students, and kidnappings of students and teachers near schools have increased, forcing many to close. Without a safe school environment, Hurtado stated, “Many children have been compelled to join armed gangs.
Worsening political and economic crisis in Haiti
Since the assassination of Jovenel Moise in July 2021, Haiti has been gripped by a worsening political and economic crisis, with gangs now controlling more than half of the country’s territory. According to Hurtado, chronic insecurity and violence have caused food costs to increase dramatically, and half of the population does not have enough to eat.
She added that at least 160,000 people had been displaced and are living in precarious conditions, with a quarter of them living in makeshift settlements with limited access to basic sanitation. According to Hurtado, gangs use sexual violence against women and girls to terrorize, subjugate, and punish the population, with gangs using sexual violence against kidnapped girls to pressure families into paying a ransom.
Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, has urged Haitian authorities to address the security situation as soon as possible by supporting the police and reforming the judicial system.
Hurtado stated that in order to break the cycle of violence, corruption, and impunity, all those responsible, including those who provide support and funding to gangs, must be prosecuted and tried in accordance with the rule of law. She went on to say that the international community should urgently consider the deployment of a time-bound, specialized support force.
