Over 5,600 killed last year in Haiti gang violence, says UN

Wed Jan 08 06:05:18 UTC 2025: ## Haiti’s Gang Violence Soars, Killing Over 5,600 in 2024: UN

**Geneva, January 8, 2025** – Soaring gang violence in Haiti claimed the lives of over 5,600 people in 2024, a stark increase of over 1,000 compared to the previous year, the United Nations revealed Tuesday. Thousands more were injured or kidnapped. The UN’s human rights chief, Volker Turk, stated that these figures, while unable to fully capture the brutality, highlight the relentless violence plaguing the nation.

Violent gangs control much of Port-au-Prince, exacerbating the decades-long political instability. A December massacre alone, attributed to the leader of the Wharf Jeremie gang, resulted in at least 207 deaths in the Cite Soleil area. Victims, many elderly, were accused of voodoo practices and poisoning. The UN also documented 315 lynchings of gang members and alleged associates, sometimes reportedly facilitated by Haitian police, as well as 281 alleged summary executions by specialized police units.

Despite a Kenyan-led police support mission, backed by the US and the UN, the violence continues unabated. Mr. Turk emphasized the need to prioritize restoring the rule of law, calling for increased logistical and financial support for the Kenyan mission. He also urged accountability for Haitian police officers allegedly involved in human rights abuses, with international assistance. The pervasive impunity for human rights violations and corruption remains a significant challenge, according to the UN.