At least 3,661 killed in ‘senseless’ Haiti gang violence this year: UN
Al JazeeraSEP 25 2024
UN: Over 3K People Killed in Haiti Gang Violence This Year
Above: A woman carrying a child runs from the area after gunshots were heard in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on March 20, 2024. Image copyright: Clarens Siffroy/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
The UN human rights office said on Friday that at least 3,661 people have been killed in Haiti since January as a result of gang violence, a level similar to last year.
This comes as the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) updated its latest report to the Human Rights Council beyond its cut-off date in June, adding 1,009 deaths.
Haiti has long faced unrest and insecurity as rival armed groups fight for influence and control of territory, but the situation escalated in March following coordinated attacks on government sites and main prisons in Port-au-Prince.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Delayed for months due to political turmoil in Haiti, the initial MSS deployment only arrived in the country in June — but has since had intermittent progress despite funding challenges. Turning the mission into a traditional UN peacekeeping operation means that there would be adequate funding to address gang violence in Haiti.
Establishment-critical narrative
None of the US-sponsored interventions in Haiti have been particularly successful, including the about-to-expire MSS mission. It's inconceivable that in the face of yet another failure, it can be argued that Haiti needs further occupation — and that's exactly what Washington is pushing for. Only Haitians can come up with real solutions for their own plight.