UN Reports 2,300 Deaths from Gang Violence in Haiti

According to the United Nations, gang violence in Haiti has led to at least 2,300 deaths and 1,100 injuries in 2023, alongside nearly 100 kidnappings. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk called on Haitian authorities to tackle the rampant impunity and the ongoing crisis affecting the Caribbean nation, which has a population of 12 million and is considered the poorest country in the Americas.

Turk emphasized the urgent need for judicial action against gangs and the implementation of international human rights laws. The UN Security Council approved a new international task force to neutralize gang forces, which will gradually replace a previous multinational mission supporting the Haitian police.

This decision was made amid concerns over the Haitian police's capacity to manage the escalating violence. The UN Human Rights Council is currently in session in Geneva, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is scheduled to visit Haiti to show solidarity with the victims of gang violence.