UN says at least 5,700 killed, wounded in Haiti gang crisis this year

GENEVA: The United Nations warns that gang violence in Haiti has claimed the lives of at least 5,700 people and left over 1,000 women and girls raped this year. UN human rights chief, Volker Turk, testified before the UN Human Rights Council that the situation remains dire, despite efforts to stem the tide of gang expansion. The UN's mission in Haiti has deployed only about 1,500 out of the planned 5,500 personnel to combat the gangs. The force remains far below the strength needed to effectively combat the violence.

Turk expressed serious concerns about the disproportionate use of force by Haitian law enforcement and self-defense groups. He noted that over half of all casualties occurred during security operations, with hundreds of people harmed by stray bullets and explosive drones. Turk also pointed out that self-defense groups have killed or injured approximately 280 individuals this year.

The UN expert on human rights in Haiti, William O'Neil, stated that the situation is dire but not hopeless. He emphasized that if a full-strength Gang Suppression Force had the right capacities, such as intelligence, night vision, and helicopters, it could be highly effective against the gangs. O'Neil suggested that capturing the leadership of the gangs could be a game-changer, as the gangs' power resides in a few hands.