UN: More Than 5,600 Dead from Gang Violence in Haiti in 2024

The UN Human Rights Office reports that more than 5,600 people were killed by gang violence in Haiti last year. That is a thousand more than in 2023.
In addition, more than 2,200 people were injured in 2024, and almost 1,500 were kidnapped, according to UN figures.
Haiti has been struggling with serious gang violence for years, and the situation continues to worsen. Most of the capital, Port-au-Prince, is in the hands of gangs. In early December, a leader in Port-au-Prince ordered a major massacre. At least 207 people were murdered. The gang leader blamed them for the death of his son, who was allegedly bewitched before his death.
The UN Human Rights Office documented 315 lynchings last year in which gang members and people with alleged gang ties were targeted. In some cases, Haitian police were said to have facilitated the violence. According to the UN, specialized police units were involved in 281 extrajudicial killings.
According to UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk, the figures “show the continued violence to which people are exposed.” He says it is clear that human rights violations, abuse and corruption remain widespread in Haiti. Restoring the rule of law must be a priority in Haiti, Türk believes.