Haiti Gang Violence Claimed Over 5,600 Lives in 2024: UN Report

Over 5,600 people lost their lives to escalating gang violence in Haiti last year, a grim increase of more than 1,000 compared to 2023, according to the United Nations. Thousands more were injured or abducted, highlighting the deteriorating security situation in the Caribbean nation.

Gang violence has tightened its grip on the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, where armed groups control vast areas. Political instability over decades has fueled the rise of these gangs, which have grown increasingly powerful.

“These figures alone cannot capture the absolute horrors being perpetrated in Haiti, but they illustrate the relentless violence endured by its people,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk stated.

Despite international efforts, including a Kenyan-led police mission supported by the United States and the UN, the violence persists.

The UN report detailed a brutal massacre in early December, where 207 individuals were killed in Cite Soleil, a Port-au-Prince neighborhood. The attack, orchestrated by the Wharf Jeremie gang leader, targeted older residents accused of practicing voodoo and poisoning the leader’s child. Many victims were brutally dismembered or burned.

In 2024, the UN documented 315 lynchings of suspected gang members, some reportedly aided by Haitian police. Additionally, 281 cases of alleged extrajudicial killings involving specialized police units were recorded.

Turk emphasized the urgent need to restore the rule of law, calling for robust support for the Kenyan-led mission and accountability for rights abuses, including by Haitian police officers. He also urged strict implementation of UN Security Council-mandated sanctions and an arms embargo.

“Weapons flowing into Haiti often end up in the hands of criminal gangs, causing thousands of deaths, mass displacement, and the destruction of essential infrastructure, including schools and hospitals,” Turk said.

The UN rights chief condemned continued deportations to Haiti, stating that the country’s insecurity and human rights crisis make safe and dignified returns impossible.

As the violence deepens, the international community faces mounting pressure to address Haiti’s security crisis and support efforts to rebuild the rule of law.