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The United Nations has called for urgent international action to address gang violence in Haiti, which has claimed more than 3,600 lives since January 2024. The UN urged Haitian authorities and global partners to prioritize security measures to prevent further loss of life.
According to the UN Human Rights Office, at least 3,661 people have been killed in Haiti this year due to escalating gang-related violence. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk stressed the urgency of the crisis. “No more lives should be lost to this senseless criminality,” Türk said.
Multinational Security Mission Lacks Resources
While acknowledging steps such as the establishment of a Transitional Presidential Council and the deployment of a Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS), Türk emphasized that the mission is severely under-equipped. He noted that approximately 430 police officers from Kenya, Jamaica, and Belize are currently deployed, but more personnel and equipment are necessary to effectively combat the gangs.
“The mission needs adequate resources to stop the gangs from spreading further and causing more havoc,” Türk said.
Human Rights Violations
The report, covering January to June 2024, documented serious human rights abuses, including the killing of at least 860 people during police operations, with concerns over excessive force. Gang violence has also led to the recruitment of children and an increase in sexual violence used to intimidate and control communities.
The violence has displaced nearly 600,000 people, and extortion by gangs in key agricultural areas has worsened Haiti’s food insecurity. The UN estimates that 1.6 million people are facing emergency-level hunger.
Call for Global Arms Embargo
The UN has reiterated calls for a global arms embargo to prevent the flow of weapons into Haiti, particularly from the United States, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica. Türk stressed that comprehensive international efforts are essential to stem the violence and protect vulnerable communities.
You can read the full UN report here.
