GENEVA, Mar 24, CMC – The United Nations Human Rights Office Tuesday said thousands of people have been killed and injured in Haiti s criminal gangs expand their reach, taking control over key sea and road routes.
“It is essential for authorities to provide security while fully upholding human rights,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk.
In its latest report released here, the UN body said that the violence not only involves gangs, but security forces, private security contractors, and self-defence groups.
According to data verified by the UN Office, at least 5,519 people were killed in Haiti and 2,608 injured between March 1 last year and January15, 2026.
It said violence perpetrated by gangs has resulted in at least 1,424 people being killed and 790 others injured; operations against gangs led by security forces have caused at least 3,497 people to be killed and 1,742 injured; and attacks against gangs by self-defence groups have caused at least 598 people to be killed and 76 injured.
The UN Office said that during the past 12 months, gangs have expanded beyond the capital Port-au-Prince, pushing into its outskirts and moving north into the Artibonite and Centre departments.
(Details in Full News section)
CMC/2026