Haiti UN reports surge in gender‑based violence, 5,500 cases in first half of 2026

The United Nations announced that more than 5,500 cases of gender‑based violence were recorded in Haiti during the first six months of 2026, the majority being rapes of women and girls. Over 1,000 incidents were reported in June alone, and about 70% of the cases involved sexual assault, often perpetrated by armed gang groups. More than half of the victims are displaced persons, with roughly 1.5 million of Haiti’s 11 million residents forced to flee their homes.

UN spokesperson Farhan Haq warned of an “alarming increase” in such violence, linking it to persistent insecurity and gang activity. In response, the UN is helping to establish a Force of Repression of Gangs (FRG/GSF) to support local police, with a long‑term plan to deploy around 5,500 foreign police and military personnel, though exact numbers are still being determined.

The figures represent a shift compared with the previous year, when over 8,000 cases were reported, underscoring the chronic nature of gender‑based abuse amid Haiti’s broader political, social and economic crisis.