The United Nations has released a stark report revealing that gang violence in Haiti resulted in the deaths of more than 5,600 people in 2024, a staggering increase of over 1,000 deaths from the previous year. This profound humanitarian crisis has left thousands injured and many more living in fear as armed gangs control the majority of the capital, Al Jazeera reports.

The total figure of those killed also includes at least 207 victims of a brutal massacre orchestrated by the Wharf Jeremie gang in December. Many of these victims were older individuals, who were accused of using voodoo practices harmful to the gang leader's family. Following this incident, some victims were reportedly burned or mutilated to conceal evidence, marking it as one of the largest slaughters in recent Port-au-Prince history, as detailed by Le Monde.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, stated, "These figures alone cannot capture the absolute horrors being perpetrated in Haiti," emphasizing the devastation inflicted on the populace. In addition to the death toll, the report noted over 2,200 injuries and nearly 1,500 kidnappings carried out by gangs throughout the year, according to the Associated Press.

The situation has escalated despite an ongoing international mission led by Kenyan authorities, which began in June 2024. The UN has called for additional logistical and financial support for this mission to effectively restore order. The dire need for assistance is amplified by reports of 315 lynchings of suspected gang members and approximately 281 summary executions carried out by police units, often with impunity, as stated in reports from The Guardian.

Furthermore, Turk has urged governments to halt the deportations of Haitians back to their homeland, citing the enormity of the human rights crisis. "The acute insecurity and resulting human rights crisis in the country simply do not allow for the safe, dignified, and sustainable return of Haitians," he noted, reflecting concerns shared across multiple reports, including one by VOA News.

The report underscores not only the chronic instability within the nation but also the urgent need for international attention and action to stem the tide of violence that has plagued Haiti for far too long.