at least 3,661 people have been killed since January, deplores the UN

The country is ravaged by gang violence. At least 3,661 people have been killed since January in Haiti, the UN alerted Friday September 27, pointing to the lack of equipment and personnel of the multinational police mission. These are the “highest levels of violence observed since 2023”, underlined the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, on the occasion of the publication of a report. “No more lives should be lost to this senseless crime.”

According to the report, which covers the period from January to June, at least 860 people were killed and 393 injured during police operations and patrols in Port-au-Prince, including at least 36 children, which “could constitute an excessive, unjustified and disproportionate use of force” according to the UN. The fight against insecurity in Haiti must be “top priority”says the UN, calling on the Haitian authorities and the international community to work more to avoid further suffering.

In October 2023, the UN Security Council gave the green light to sending a Multinational Security Support Mission (MMAS) led by Kenya to help the Haitian police. The High Commissioner welcomes “recent measures taken, such as the establishment of a Presidential Transitional Council, a new transitional government and the deployment of the first MMAS contingents”. But “It is clear, however, that the Mission requires adequate and sufficient equipment and personnel to effectively and sustainably combat armed gangs and prevent them from spreading and causing further devastation to people’s lives”estimated Volker Türk.