At least 1,167 people were killed and another 459 injured in Haiti during the third quarter of 2023, according to a United Nations report released Wednesday. The violence has intensified as armed gangs have expanded their activities across the country.
The U.N. Integrated Office in Haiti reported that more than 45% of those casualties stemmed from gang-related violence. Operations targeting these armed groups accounted for over half of the reported deaths and injuries. Notably, some of these security operations involved private military contractors utilizing drones.
The report highlighted specific incidents, including massacres in communities that had previously been unaffected by gang violence. In Kenscoff, at least 105 residents, including 19 children, were killed in two attacks in July and August, with more than 36 fatalities occurring in the courtyard of a Protestant church. In Cité Soleil, gang members murdered at least 19 people, including 12 elderly women, in early August.
Kidnapping cases surged to 137 during this period, rising substantially from 81 reported between April and June. Children represented 10% of the kidnapping victims, according to the U.N.
The report also documented 344 incidents of sexual violence attributed to gang members, with victims ranging from eight to 75 years old. The majority of these cases involved gang rape, which accounted for 77% of the reported incidents.
Additionally, the U.N. noted the recruitment of children into armed gangs, with at least 32 boys aged 14 to 16 reported killed during exchanges of gunfire with security forces in Gressier in August.
Extrajudicial executions and attempts rose, with the U.N. recording 44 cases involving Haitian police officers, an increase from 14 in the previous quarter. These disturbing findings reflect the ongoing turmoil in Haiti, which continues to depend heavily on international assistance to combat gang-related violence.
On the diplomatic front, Haitian Foreign Minister Raina Forbin met with her Chadian counterpart, Ahmed Kogri, in Paris, expressing gratitude for Chad’s contribution of personnel to the international security effort. This follows Chad’s involvement in the U.N.-authorized Gang Suppression Force aimed at supporting Haitian authorities in reclaiming territory from gangs.
The U.N. Support Office in Haiti confirmed the arrival of contingents from Chad and Sri Lanka in September, supporting over 1,500 international personnel, with expectations for additional deployments.
On September 29, the U.N. Security Council extended the mandate of this force through March 31, 2027, as a means to reinforce operations against the gangs while emphasizing the Haitian government’s responsibility to protect its civilians. The U.N. has urged the international community to expedite the force’s deployment, enhance measures against illegal arms trafficking, and ensure that security operations adhere to human rights standards.
The office also called for investigative measures into alleged abuses and greater protections for survivors of sexual violence and children affected by armed groups.
