Haiti’s Worsening Crisis: 5,600+ Killed in a Year
A UN report reveals a sharp rise in violence across Haiti, with over 5,600 deaths and 2,200 injuries in the past year as criminal gangs tighten their grip on the country.
Source: UN / Image: © IOM/Antoine Lemonnier
A report published on Tuesday revealed that at least 5,626 people have been killed and more than 2,213 injured in Haiti over the past year. Criminal gangs control most of the country, including the capital, Port-au-Prince. The numbers mark a troubling rise compared to 2023, when around 1,000 casualties were recorded.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric informed journalists in New York that Haiti’s security situation is deteriorating rapidly. According to the UN office BINUH, the last three months of 2024 saw a sharp increase in violence involving criminal gangs, self-defense groups, and law enforcement agencies. During this period, 1,732 people lost their lives, and 411 were injured. The report highlights three major incidents where over 300 people were killed.
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One of the deadliest attacks occurred in Port-au-Prince’s Wharf Jérémie area, where a gang accused elderly residents of using witchcraft to harm their leader’s child. Between December 6 and 11, the gang retaliated by killing at least 207 people. Victims were murdered in their homes and places of worship, and some were burned or mutilated to destroy evidence.
Despite the violence lasting for five days, security forces did not intervene. Similar massacres were reported in other parts of Haiti, where at least 170 people were killed in early December. The rise in self-defense groups seeking revenge has further fueled the cycle of violence.
Haitian security forces have also been accused of human rights violations. The UN report states that in 2024, the police killed over 250 people, including two children. Some victims were executed after being detained, while others were killed for failing to produce identification. Despite calls for accountability, investigations into police misconduct remain largely obstructed. Since June 2023, no officials have been formally investigated, highlighting the lack of oversight.
Amid this escalating crisis, Haiti’s justice system remains ineffective, with major cases of murder and corruption moving at a sluggish pace. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has urged for the restoration of law and order in Haiti. He also called on the international community to ensure the full deployment of a multinational security support mission to stabilize the country.
