GENEVA: The United Nations reported on Friday that more than 3,600 people have been killed this year due to rampant gang violence in Haiti.
The country, already the poorest in the Western Hemisphere, has descended into chaos, with gangs seizing control of the capital, Port-au-Prince, leading to a collapse of both security and healthcare systems.
In the first half of 2024 alone, approximately 600,000 people were displaced, and 1,280 individuals were injured in gang-related violence, including 295 women and 63 children, according to the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR).
During this period, at least 893 people, including 25 children, were kidnapped and held for ransom by criminal groups competing for power amid a political crisis and weakened state authority.
The OHCHR noted that at least 3,661 people have died since January, reflecting the sustained high levels of violence from 2023. “No more lives should be lost to this senseless criminality,” stated Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The OHCHR called on both Haitian authorities and the international community to take stronger action to protect the population.
The report highlighted a shift in gang tactics this year, with some victims facing random gunfire while others were executed publicly for allegedly informing on gangs or opposing their activities. Horrifyingly, some victims had their bodies mutilated with machetes before being burned, with gangs documenting these acts and disseminating the footage on social media to instill fear.
The gangs have also resorted to sexual violence as a means of punishment and control, according to the report. It noted that at least 860 people were killed and 393 injured during police operations and patrols in Port-au-Prince, including at least 36 children, raising concerns over the potential use of excessive force.
Furthermore, gangs have been actively recruiting children into their ranks. An estimated 1.6 million people in Haiti are currently facing emergency-level food insecurity.
In October 2023, the UN Security Council approved the deployment of a multinational stabilization force, led by Kenya, to support Haitian police efforts.
Kenyan President William Ruto announced at the UN General Assembly on Thursday that his country aims to complete the deployment of the 2,500-strong Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) by January.
