UN voices 'grave' concern over continuing extreme violence in Haiti

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - The UN on Tuesday expressed "grave" concern as the "extreme violence continues to spiral out of control" in Haiti.

"Clashes between gangs are becoming more violent and more frequent, as they try to expand their territorial control throughout the capital and other regions by targeting people living in areas controlled by rivals," UN High Commissioner for Human Rights spokeswoman Marta Hurtado said at a UN bi-weekly press briefing.

Hurtado noted that a total of 531 people were killed, 300 injured and 277 kidnapped in gang-related incidents that took place mainly in the capital, Port-au-Prince in 2023, up to March 15, according to information gathered by the Human Rights Service of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti.

In the first two weeks of March alone, clashes among gangs left at least 208 killed, 164 injured and 101 kidnapped, she added.

"Most of the victims were killed or injured by snipers who were reportedly randomly shooting at people in their homes or on the streets," she said. "Sexual violence is also used by gangs against women and girls to terrorize, subjugate and punish the population. Gang members frequently use sexual violence against abducted girls to pressure families to pay a ransom."

Also during gang fights, stray bullets have hit students and teachers, and kidnappings of parents and children near schools have increased, causing many of them to close, she said and added that without the protective environment of schools, many children have been forcibly recruited by armed gangs.

Regarding the number of people who had to flee the daily danger, she stated that 160,000 people have been displaced and are in a precarious situation as of mid-March, while a quarter of those displaced live in makeshift settlements, with very limited access to basic services such as drinking water and sanitation.

- Chronic instability, gang violence contribute to food insecurity

Hurtado underlined that chronic instability and gang violence have contributed to surging prices and food insecurity.

"Half of the population does not have enough to eat, and in some areas, such as Cité Soleil, hunger has reached particularly alarming levels," she warned.

Recalling UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk's wake-up call to the international community during his visit to Haiti in February, she said his recommendations are "more urgent than ever".

"The High Commissioner urges the Haitian authorities to immediately address the grave security situation. The National Police needs to be strengthened to be able to respond to the huge challenges it faces, in a manner consistent with its human rights obligations," she said. "People must be able to return to their homes under safe and dignified conditions."

She urged the international community to support these efforts and said that authorities must also undertake a profound reform of the judicial and penitentiary system.

All those responsible, including those who back and financially support the gangs, must be charged and tried in accordance with the law in order to "end the cycle of violence, corruption, and impunity," she stressed.

"We also call on the international community to urgently consider the deployment of a time-bound specialized support force under conditions that conform to international human rights laws and norms, with a comprehensive and precise action plan," she concluded.