Violence in Haiti Results in Over 5,500 Deaths in Less Than a Year

SadaNews - The United Nations stated that the violence perpetrated by gangs in Haiti and the security operations targeting them have resulted in over 5,500 deaths between March 2025 and mid-January.

The UN Human Rights Office called for further action to address rampant corruption and impunity in the poorest country in the Americas.

A new report prepared by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk highlights the consequences of the expanding influence of gangs in Haiti on human rights, including their control over key maritime and land routes amid ongoing bloody violence. This violence involves gangs, security forces, private security companies, and self-defense groups.

The report specified that "at least 5,519 people were killed in Haiti and 2,608 others were injured between March 1, 2025, and January 15, 2026."

It added, "Gang violence led to the deaths of at least 1,424 people and left 790 others injured, while operations conducted by security forces against gangs resulted in at least 3,497 deaths and 1,742 injuries. Attacks carried out by self-defense groups against gangs resulted in at least 598 deaths and 76 injuries."

For years, Haiti has been suffering from gang violence with frequent murders, rapes, and kidnappings.

The report continued, "Over the past twelve months, gangs have expanded outside the capital Port-au-Prince, infiltrating its suburbs and moving north into the Artibonite and Centre departments."

The report concluded that "gangs have managed to fortify strategic corridors and maintain control over vital maritime and land routes that support their financing and operational capacity."

It pointed out that "gangs terrorized the population by killing and kidnapping people, trafficking children, robbing at illegal checkpoints, extorting money from businesses, and destroying and looting public and private property."

It was noted in the report that since March 2025, a private military company, allegedly hired by the Haitian government, has been involved in security operations that included the use of drone strikes and helicopter fire.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights stated, "A crackdown on gangs will not be effective in the long term unless greater efforts are made to identify the financiers, organizers, and supporters of gang activities, detain them, investigate, and prosecute them according to international standards."