Over 5,600 people were killed in Haiti last year as a U.N.-backed mission led by Kenya continues to face challenges in curbing widespread gang violence, officials reported.
According to the U.N. Human Rights Office, the death toll represents a more than 20% increase compared to 2023.
Additionally, over 2,200 people were injured, and nearly 1,500 were kidnapped over the course of the year.
`The Human Rights Office documented 315 lynching’s of suspected gang members or individuals allegedly linked to gangs.
It also reported that 281 cases of alleged summary executions carried out by specialized police units.
“These figures underscore the relentless violence endured by Haitians,” said Volker Türk, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, in a statement.
He emphasized that impunity for human rights violations, abuses, and systemic corruption remain widespread in Haiti.
Among the fatalities last year were 315 suspected gang members lynched by civilians and over 280 individuals killed by police in alleged extrajudicial executions, the U.N. added.
Gang activity in Haiti has intensified significantly since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse.
Gangs now reportedly control about 85% of the capital, with coordinated attacks targeting prisons, police stations, and even the main international airport.
Africanews/Patience Ameh
Comments are closed.