Haiti gang violence and security operations leave over 5,700 dead or injured

More than 5,700 people have been killed or injured in Haiti due to gang attacks and security operations since the beginning of the year, according to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. The report, covering the period up to September 11, also notes that 230 people were kidnapped and approximately 1,000 women and girls were raped, though Türk suggested the actual number is “likely much higher.”

Violence has escalated following the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, which created a power vacuum allowing gangs to seize more territory and key transport routes. UN evidence indicates that gangs are continuously adapting and expanding their influence.

Security operations have also contributed to the toll, with over 50 percent of victims caught in the crossfire of operations against gangs, including casualties from “stray bullets and armed drones.” Additionally, the recruitment of children into gangs has nearly tripled. While elections were tentatively scheduled for December 13, Türk stated it is “difficult to imagine” that conditions for credible elections can be met this year.