The violence of armed gangs that reign terror in Haiti have killed more than 2,400 people since the beginning of the year, the UN said on Friday. “Between January 1 and August 15 this year, at least 2,439 people were killed and 902 others injured,” OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said during a briefing. a UN briefing in Geneva.
In response to ongoing gang violence and widespread insecurity, there has been an increase in “popular justice” movements or vigilante groups. “From April 24 until mid-August, more than 350 people were lynched by local people and vigilante groups. Among those killed are 310 suspected gang members, 46 members of the public and one police officer,” Shamdasani said.
Faced with the wave of violence, which further intensified between August 11 and 15, Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, calls for urgent measures to be taken at the following the UN Secretary General’s call for a non-UN multinational force to help the Haitian police deal with the situation
“The human rights of the Haitian people must be protected and their suffering alleviated,” said Volker Türk, who visited the country in February. Haiti has been mired for years in a deep economic, security and political crisis, which has reinforced the grip of gangs. These armed gangs control approximately 80% of the Haitian capital and violent crime is common.
