In Haiti, violence has significantly increased in recent months, with more than 1,740 people killed or injured from July to September, representing a 30% rise compared to the previous quarter. The capital, Port-au-Prince, is being affected, as 85% of the city is now under gang control, an increase from the previous 80%. According to the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), of the 1,223 deaths reported in the third quarter, the majority are attributed to gang violence. Additionally, at least 106 extrajudicial killings were committed, including the murder of six 10-year-old children accused of collaborating with gang members. Of these killings, 96 were perpetrated by police officers and 10 by a public prosecutor from Miragoâne. The lack of state representation has allowed gangs to take on tasks normally assigned to the police and the judicial system, imposing their own rules. The UN-backed mission to curb gang violence is facing serious financial and personnel challenges, prompting calls for a UN peacekeeping mission. On the other hand, the report highlights possible excessive use of lethal force and a lack of precautionary measures during police operations. It is noted that the majority of murders and injuries occurred in La Saline, where gangs compete for control of the main port and its container terminal. Cases of extreme brutality by gangs in other communities in the metropolitan area were also reported. Amid this spiral of violence, the situation in Port-au-Prince is becoming increasingly critical, with a bleak landscape of murders, violence, and uncontrollable gang activity, a crisis that demands urgent actions to protect the civilian population and restore order in the country.
