The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has raised an alarm over the escalating gang violence and deteriorating human rights situation in Haiti. In an interim report presented at the 57th session of the Human Rights Council, increasing gang-related violence throughout 2024 was detailed, highlighting that criminal organizations have expanded their control over key parts of the capital, Port-au-Prince, as well as other regions. The report indicates that from January to June 2024, at least 2,652 people were killed, including 52 children. Additionally, 1,280 people were injured, and nearly 900 were kidnapped, evidencing the widespread brutality facing the population.
Particularly affected are the West Department and the Artibonite region. State institutions have struggled to respond effectively to the crisis. The collapse of law enforcement has allowed gangs to attack public institutions, police stations, and even prisons. In March, coordinated gang assaults on Port-au-Prince prisons led to over 4,600 detainees escaping, many of whom joined criminal networks, further escalating the violence (more details).
This instability has fueled a growing humanitarian crisis. By mid-2024, over 580,000 people had been displaced, and an estimated 1.6 million Haitians are facing acute food insecurity. Disruptions to agricultural production and loss of over 3,000 hectares of farmland to gang-related extortion and theft have exacerbated the situation.
The humanitarian crisis has prompted the UN to call for enhanced humanitarian aid and protection for vulnerable populations in Haiti. The international community is urged to prevent the illicit flow of arms into the country, despite a UN-imposed arms embargo. The UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk stressed the urgency of swift and decisive action to address the untenable conditions facing the Haitian people.