At least 3,661 killed in ‘senseless’ Haiti gang violence this year: UN
Al JazeeraSep 23
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.
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.