Geneva (AFP) – At least 5,700 people have been killed or injured since the beginning of the year in Haiti, a country devastated by gang violence, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights warned this Friday.

First modification: 02/10/2026 - 12:56

Haiti has been going through a political, economic and security crisis for some time, but the situation has deteriorated considerably in recent years due to the violence of heavily armed groups that control large regions of the Caribbean country.

"From January 1 to September 11, my office counted at least 5,700 people killed or injured at the hands of gangs or in operations against them," said High Commissioner Volker Türk in Geneva.

"The gangs also kidnapped more than 230 people and raped more than 1,000 women and girls," added Türk, who warned that the real figures "are probably higher."

"Despite some success in containing their activity in parts of the capital, Port-au-Prince, gangs continue to adapt and expand, reappearing in new areas and constantly rearming," he told the UN Human Rights Council.

The UN Security Council authorized a Gang Suppression Force that was supposed to have 5,500 troops, but has had difficulty obtaining contributions.

"The force remains far below the necessary level" and requires an "accelerated deployment," Türk said.

According to the US ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, the force currently has just 1,500 members.

Türk noted that the UN maintains "serious concerns about the unnecessary and disproportionate use of force" by Haitian security forces and self-defense groups.

"Since the beginning of the year, more than half of all casualties have occurred in the context of security operations, with hundreds of people hit by stray bullets and explosive drones," he said.

"The number of summary executions carried out by specialized police units has reduced significantly, almost by half compared to 2025. However, people allegedly linked to gangs continue to be summarily executed," he noted.

Türk added that so-called self-defense groups have killed or injured around 280 people so far this year.

Haiti is preparing to hold its first elections in a decade on December 13, as well as a constitutional referendum.

© 2026 AFP

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