UN Reports More Than 5,700 Killed or Wounded in Haiti Gang Crisis

At least 5,700 people were killed or wounded in Haiti’s gang violence crisis through September 11, according to figures compiled by the UN mission in Haiti and cited by UN human rights chief Volker Turk.

The figures also recorded more than 1,000 women and girls raped and 230 kidnappings during the same period. Turk cautioned that the actual totals for killings, injuries and kidnappings are likely to be higher.

Addressing the UN Human Rights Council, Turk said armed gangs continued to adapt and expand despite the deployment of an international security force intended to help Haitian authorities restore order.

Gangs expanding beyond parts of the capital

Turk said there had been some success in containing gang activity in parts of Port-au-Prince. However, he said the groups were continuing to re-emerge in new areas and rearm.

“Despite some success in containing their activity in parts of the capital, Port-au-Prince, gangs continue to adapt and expand, re-emerging in new areas and constantly rearming,” Turk said.

His remarks point to continuing difficulties in reducing the reach of armed groups, even with the presence of the international security deployment.

Security force remains below planned strength

Turk also raised concerns about the staffing of the Gang Suppression Force. The force was intended to reach 5,500 personnel but had about 1,500, leaving it significantly below its planned strength.

“The force remains far below the strength needed,” Turk said.

The UN official further expressed serious concerns about what he described as the unnecessary and disproportionate use of force by Haiti’s national law enforcement and self-defence groups.

Casualties linked to security operations

According to Turk, more than half of all casualties since the beginning of the year occurred in the context of security operations. He said hundreds of people had been struck by stray bullets and explosive drones.

Turk also said so-called self-defence groups had killed or injured about 280 people during the year. His comments placed the reported harm in the wider context of operations involving Haitian law enforcement, armed gangs and community-based groups.

The UN figures provide a snapshot of the crisis only through September 11 and do not separate the total number of people killed from those wounded. The reported number of women and girls raped is also given as more than 1,000 rather than as an exact total.