It is reported that compared to the figures of 2023, the number of dead in 2024 is more than one thousand. 2,212 people were injured and about 1,500 were kidnapped.
High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said that not only do these statistics explain the dire situation in Haiti, but they also show how ordinary citizens are being consumed by violence.
OHCHR noted that in December 2024, a criminal group called Wharf Jeremy carried out violence in an area of the capital Port-au-Prince, killing at least 207 people.
Many of the victims of this attack have been accused of killing the gang leader’s son through witchcraft.
After killing a large number of people, gang members mutilated and burned most of the bodies to destroy evidence. Others are thrown into the sea.
The United Nations Human Rights Office collected data on 315 cases of mass beatings by members of criminal gangs and people associated with these groups. In some cases, they were conducted with the assistance of Haitian police officers.
There were 281 cases of extrajudicial executions.
A sense of impunity
High Commissioner Turk said it is clear that there is a sense of impunity for human rights violations and abuses, corruption. Economic and social inequality is also widespread in the country, which is facing a multidimensional crisis.
“Tackling these underlying causes requires additional efforts by local authorities with the support of the international community.”
The High Commissioner for Human Rights stressed that restoring the rule of law in Haiti must be considered a priority.
Accordingly, the Multinational Security Assistance Mission in Haiti needs to be provided with the necessary financial and operational support to enable it to carry out its mandate.
In parallel, international support must strengthen Haiti’s national police and hold police officers guilty of human rights violations accountable.
Volker Turk said the sanctions imposed by the Security Council must be fully implemented in Haiti, to stop the supply of arms and weapons to the country.