Haiti’s death toll last year was more than 1,000 higher than in 2023. Crime violence in Haiti to kill more than 5,600 in 2024 Peace and security
At least 5,601 people were killed by gang members in Haiti last year, the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) said on Tuesday, calling on the country’s authorities and the international community to do more to address the root causes of violence.
The death toll last year was more than a thousand higher than in 2023, with 2,212 people also injured and 1,494 abducted.
“These figures do not fully capture the absolute horror that is happening in Haiti, but they do give an indication of the level of violence that people are being subjected to,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.
Massacre
OHCHR recalled that at least 207 people were killed in one of the deadliest and most shocking incidents of violence. This literal massacre took place in early December in the Cité Soleil district of the capital Port-au-Prince.
Many of the victims were elderly people who were accused by a gang leader of using voodoo to kill his son. To hide the evidence, the gang members dismembered and burned most of the bodies and dumped the rest in the sea.
OHCHR also documented 315 cases of lynching of gang members and people believed to be associated with them. In some cases, Haitian police were reportedly involved.
In addition, 281 cases of alleged extrajudicial executions linked to specialized police units were recorded in 2024.
Total impunity
“It has long been clear that impunity for human rights violations and corruption remain widespread in Haiti. This is one of the main causes of the multifaceted crisis the country is facing, along with entrenched economic and social inequalities,” Türk said. “Additional efforts by the authorities and support from the international community are needed to address these causes.”
The OHCHR chief stressed that restoring the rule of law must be a priority. He added that for this purpose, the UN-supported Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti needs logistical and financial support to successfully implement its mandate.
In addition, the Haitian National Police, with the support of the international community, must strengthen control mechanisms to hold police officers involved in human rights violations accountable.
Sanctions and Arms Embargo
Türk reiterated his call for full compliance with the UN Security Council sanctions regime on Haiti, as well as the arms embargo. This, he said, is crucial to preventing the flow of firearms and ammunition into the country. “Weapons entering Haiti often end up in the hands of criminal gangs, with tragic consequences: thousands killed, hundreds of thousands displaced, infrastructure and services such as schools and hospitals destroyed,” he said.
The High Commissioner also noted that deportations of Haitians continue, even though conditions in their country have not improved. Türk reiterated his call on all States to stop forcibly expelling Haitians.