Haiti’s ongoing violence has led to a grim milestone: more than 5,600 people were killed last year as a U.N.-backed mission, spearheaded by Kenya, struggles to control rampant gang violence, according to officials.
The U.N. Human Rights Office reported a 20% increase in killings compared to 2023, with over 2,200 injuries and nearly 1,500 kidnappings. “These figures alone cannot capture the absolute horrors being perpetrated in Haiti, but they show the unremitting violence to which people are being subjected,” U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said.
Among the casualties were two journalists and a police officer, killed by gunmen during the Christmas Eve reopening of Haiti’s largest public hospital, previously closed by gang activity.
Gang violence has displaced over 700,000 Haitians, forcing them into overcrowded, unsanitary shelters. Garry Joseph, a 55-year-old survivor, recounted, “I saw family members being murdered, and there was nothing I could do to save them.” He now lives in an abandoned government office.
A massacre in early December claimed the lives of over 200 people in a gang-controlled slum. The attack, one of the worst in recent history, was linked to a gang leader seeking revenge for his son’s death. Anita Jean-Marie, a 49-year-old mother, condemned the gang members, saying, “It’s time for them to die. They’ve made people’s lives unbearable.”
The U.N. report highlighted the lynching of 315 suspected gang members and over 280 alleged summary executions by police. Türk stressed the enduring impunity and corruption in Haiti, calling for increased support for the U.N.-backed mission.
Despite calls for a robust U.N. peacekeeping mission, only 400 Kenyan police officers and around 150 military police from Central America, mainly Guatemala, have joined. Other nations, including Jamaica, Belize, and Chad, have pledged personnel, but deployment timelines remain uncertain, falling short of the 2,500 officers needed.
Sunrise Airways announced the temporary suspension of flights to and from Port-au-Prince, a city 85% controlled by gangs. This marks the third time this year the main international airport has halted commercial flights.
“There is nowhere you can go,” Joseph lamented, noting that gangs control all major roads, firing indiscriminately at public transport. “Nobody is safe in this country, especially in Port-au-Prince … Everybody is just counting their days.”
In November, the airport shut down after gangs opened fire, damaging three planes, including a Spirit Airlines flight. Although the airport reopened, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration extended a flight ban to Haiti until March 12.
Haitians Struggle for Survival
Rony Jean-Bernard, a former moto-taxi driver, now relies on handouts, often surviving on bread and sugar. “Every day is like darkness,” he said. “I can’t see where life is taking me with this government in place that is making promises that things will get better. I hear that every day.”
The dire situation has prompted calls for nations to halt deportations to Haiti. “The acute insecurity and resulting human rights crisis in the country simply do not allow for the safe, dignified, and sustainable return of Haitians. And yet, deportations are continuing,” Türk said.
Under U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration, some 27,800 Haitians have been deported. The neighboring Dominican Republic deported over a quarter million people last year as part of its crackdown on migrants.
The international community has shown concern over Haiti’s deteriorating situation. However, tangible support remains limited. The logistical and financial backing needed for the U.N.-backed mission is far from sufficient, leaving many Haitians in a state of despair.
“Every day is like darkness,” Bernard reiterated, reflecting the sentiment of many who feel abandoned by both their government and the international community.
The ongoing crisis in Haiti underscores the urgent need for a coordinated and effective response to restore stability and security in the nation.
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