Friday February 9, 2024, Marta Hurtado, Spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) declared in a press release “The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, had issued an urgent warning about Haiti's worsening human rights disaster, after figures showed January 2024 was the most violent in more than two years.

"At least 806 people, not involved in the ongoing violent exchanges, were killed, injured or kidnapped in January 2024. Some 300 gang members were also killed or injured, bringing the total number of victims to 1,108, more than three times the number recorded in January 2023.

All municipalities in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince are affected

"Residents of areas controlled by gangs have been directly targeted. Gangs also continue to use sexual violence against women and girls as a weapon and sow fear by sharing gruesome photos and videos of people killed and women raped on local social media.

"The impact of this torrent of violence on children remains particularly worrying. In 2023, 167 children were killed or injured by gunfire. Some were executed by gangs for their alleged support of their rivals or by so-called “self-defense” groups for their alleged gang membership… The recruitment of children into gangs remains extremely worrying.

"Against this backdrop of widespread violence, anti-government street protests and civil unrest, supported by opposition political parties, have taken place in recent weeks in at least 24 cities across the country, including the capital. Between January 20 and February 7, at least 16 people were killed and 29 others injured, mainly in clashes between demonstrators and police.

"The already dire human rights situation has further deteriorated, against a backdrop of incessant and increasing gang violence, with disastrous consequences for Haitians […] With each passing day, new victims are recorded. Today more than ever, the lives of Haitians depend on the deployment, without further delay, of the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti (MMSS) to support the Haitian National Police and ensure the security of the Haitian population, in conditions that comply with human rights norms and standards."

HL/ S/ HaitiLibre