The United Nations reported on Friday that more than 3,600 people have been killed in Haiti this year due to escalating gang violence.
The country, already the poorest in the Western Hemisphere, is facing severe turmoil, with gangs taking control of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and overwhelming both the security and healthcare systems.
The UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) revealed that about 600,000 people were displaced in the first half of 2024, while 1,280 were injured in the violence, including women and children.
Additionally, 893 individuals, including 25 children, were kidnapped for ransom as gangs vied for control in the power vacuum left by Haiti’s political crisis and weak state institutions.
Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, condemned the violence, calling it “senseless” and urging both Haitian authorities and the international community to take action. The report also highlighted the gruesome tactics used by gangs, including mutilation and the sharing of violent content on social media to spread fear.
The OHCHR further noted that Haitian police operations have resulted in at least 860 deaths, raising concerns about the potential use of excessive force. Gangs have also recruited children into their ranks and used sexual violence as a means of control.
In response to the crisis, a UN-authorized multinational stabilisation force, led by Kenya, is set to deploy 2,500 troops by January 2024 to assist the Haitian police.
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