The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) published a damning report on July 30 on the escalation of gang-related violence during the second quarter of 2024. According to the document, 1,379 people were victims of murder and injury, while at least 428 others were kidnapped for ransom.
Most of the violence has been observed in Port-au-Prince and the Artibonite region, where gangs continue to sow terror among rural populations. Municipalities in the north of this department, previously spared, are now affected by this crime wave.
The actions carried out by the police’s specialised units between April and June also had a high human cost. The report records 236 victims, including 45 cases involving excessive use of force against people not involved in acts of violence, such as street vendors and pedestrians.
The report also highlights a rise in sexual and gender-based violence. Many women and girls have been attacked by groups of young armed men, often on public transport or in displacement sites in Port-au-Prince. Some victims have been murdered after being raped.
Children are not spared from this violence. At least 49 boys and girls have been killed or injured in gang attacks or stray bullets during police operations. In addition, according to the press release, some children, suspected of minor crimes, have been lynched by the population. Gangs and vigilante groups are increasingly using children to commit criminal activities.
Gangs continued their campaign of destruction that began in February and March 2024, vandalizing and burning public buildings, residences, and businesses. More than 450 structures were destroyed or burned. Freedom of movement remains severely restricted, particularly in the capital and Artibonite.
Journalists, human rights defenders and judicial actors continue to be the target of threats and attacks, thus amplifying the climate of fear and insecurity.
Despite some progress in the fight against corruption, the judicial system remains paralyzed by violence and repeated strikes by magistrates and judicial staff. Since October 2023, courts and tribunals have operated for barely ten days.
The report also reveals alarming conditions of detention. During the second quarter, 78 detainees died, mainly due to unsanitary conditions, insufficient food and lack of access to drinking water.
By: Daniel Zephyr
