BY ALEX BALUKU
Baluku is a distinguished Fellow of the Dag Hammarskjöld Fund for Journalists, currently reporting from the United States of America. With a keen eye for global affairs and a commitment to delivering insightful coverage of UN activities, Baluku brings a unique perspective to the world of international journalism.
NEW YORK, NOV 28, 2023 – In a disturbing development, gang violence in Haiti is surging, reaching into rural areas once considered safe, according to a new report released on Tuesday by the UN human rights office (OHCHR) and the UN political mission in Haiti (BINUH). The report highlights the urgent need for the deployment of a multinational security support mission, authorized by the UN Security Council in October. However, it also emphasizes the necessity of strengthening Haiti’s institutions of the rule of law, including the police, judiciary, and penitentiary system.
Gang Violence Spreads to Rural Areas
The UN report brings attention to the Bas-Artibonite district in central Haiti, located approximately 100 kilometers from the capital, Port-au-Prince. Over the past two years, this region has witnessed a significant surge in gang violence, with at least 1,694 people killed, injured, or kidnapped between January 2022 and October 2023. The violence has led to a mass displacement of over 22,000 people, now seeking refuge in makeshift shelters, such as a school in Port-au-Prince.
Kidnappings and Sexual Violence
Kidnappings for ransom by criminal groups have become a constant fear for public transport users in the district. The report tells harrowing stories of individuals like Darleine, a 22-year-old woman who was abducted from a bus in March this year. She endured captivity for over two weeks, facing repeated beatings and sexual assault. Tragically, a few weeks after her release, she took her own life. The report documents instances of criminal groups ransacking rival villages, executing locals, and resorting to sexual violence against women and even young children.
Agricultural Devastation and Food Insecurity
Criminal groups are not only targeting residents but also looting farmers’ properties, destroying crops, and livestock. This has led to a significant reduction in farmland, exacerbating food insecurity. As of September, more than 45% of the population in Bas-Artibonite faced acute food insecurity. The violence has left farming families unable to pay off debts and access basic services, creating a dire economic situation for many.
Catastrophic Humanitarian Crisis
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, expressed deep concern over the escalating violence in Haiti. He revealed shocking statistics, stating that at least 3,960 people have been killed, 1,432 injured, and 2,951 kidnapped in gang-related violence in Haiti this year alone. Türk described the situation as “cataclysmic” and emphasized the urgent need for the deployment of the multinational security support mission to Haiti.
“In the face of the horrific violence against the population that is spreading – inside and outside Port-au-Prince – and the inability of the police to stop them, the much-needed multinational security support mission must be deployed to Haiti as soon as possible,” Türk stressed.
Calls for International Intervention
The UN report calls for internal control mechanisms and safeguards within the multinational force to ensure compliance with international human rights norms and standards. In light of the escalating violence, the report also urges the UN Security Council to update the list of individuals and entities subject to UN sanctions. Türk emphasized the importance of focusing on implementing the arms embargo and sanctions targeting those responsible for the dire situation.
“The focus must continue to be on the implementation of the arms embargo and sanctions targeting those responsible for this untenable situation,” Türk stated. He also called on the Haitian authorities to fulfill their international human rights obligations and take robust measures to strengthen the country’s institutions, improve governance, and combat corruption and impunity.
As Haiti grapples with this escalating crisis, the international community faces the urgent task of addressing immediate security concerns while working towards long-term solutions to stabilize the country and protect the rights and well-being of its citizens.
