At least 2,300 killed this year in Haiti gang violence, UN human rights chief says

By Gavin Blackburn Published on 15/06/2026 - 11:50 GMT+2 Share Comments Add Euronews on Google Share Facebook Twitter Flipboard Send Reddit Linkedin Messenger Telegram VK Bluesky Threads Whatsapp Haiti has been plagued by worsening gang violence since the 2021 assassination of its then-President Jovenel Moïse. Gang violence has killed at least 2,300 people in Haiti this year, while nearly 100 have been kidnapped, the United Nations said on Monday. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT UN human rights chief Volker Türk called on the authorities to tackle the rampant impunity in the crisis-ravaged Caribbean nation of 12 million people. Haiti has been plagued by worsening gang violence since the 2021 assassination of its then-President Jovenel Moïse. Armed gangs now control most of Port-au-Prince and regularly carry out killings, rapes, looting and kidnappings. "In Haiti, gang violence has resulted in at least 2,300 deaths, 1,100 injuries and 99 kidnappings since the start of the year," said Türk. "I urge the authorities to move quickly on the judicial units to tackle impunity." People displaced from their homes due to clashes between armed gangs take refuge at a police station in Port-au-Prince, 11 May, 2026 AP Photo "The Gang Suppression Force (GSF) is urgently needed and needs to operate in line with international human rights law," the UN high commissioner for human rights said. The UN Security Council last year gave its approval to the new international GSF tasked with neutralising the gangs. The force will gradually replace the previous Multinational Mission to Support the Haitian Police (MMAS). The council green-lit the GSF at the United States' urging last September amid concerns that the MMAS was under-equipped and under-funded. An initial deployment plan has been approved, adhering to the ceiling of 5,500 troops and police officers authorised by the Security Council, with deployments set to take place in phases. Children stand next to police officers in Port-au-Prince, 27 April, 2026 AP Photo Türk was giving his global update at the opening of the 62nd session of the UN Human Rights Council. The 47-country council meets for three regular sessions a year in Geneva, with the current session, which lasts until 7 July, being the second of 2026. UN Secretary-General António Guterres will visit Haiti on Tuesday to show solidarity with victims of gang violence, his spokesman Farhan Haq said last week. This will be "a solidarity visit, during which he will meet men, women and children whose lives have been affected by violence," Haq told reporters. Go to accessibility shortcuts Share Comments Add Euronews on Google Read more Haiti faces sexual violence and abuse crisis as gang violence spreads, MSF says Doctors Without Borders closes its emergency centre in Haiti's capital due to surge of gang violence Irish missionary among eight freed in Haiti after kidnapping during orphanage attack United Nations Haiti Jovenel Moise gang delinquency Violence