A U.N. report released on Thursday revealed that a surge in gang violence and human rights abuses in Haiti is being fueled by a constant flow of illegal weapons into the country. The report indicated that more than 4,200 people were killed and 1,356 injured between July and February. The violence is attributed to gangs like “Viv Ansamn,” as well as self-defense groups and mobs. Law enforcement response to the violence has also led to a high number of killings, including a 60% increase in police killings during operations from July to February.
The report highlighted instances of police involvement in summary executions of suspected gang members and innocent civilians. It also mentioned that nearly 1,000 firearms belonging to Haiti’s National Police have been diverted in the past four years, with some being sold on the black market. The report estimated that 270,000 to 500,000 illegal weapons are circulating in Haiti, contributing to the cycle of violence and human rights abuses.
Detecting and seizing illegal weapons remains a challenge due to underfunding, understaffing, corruption, and lack of oversight in Haiti’s customs and police departments. The U.N.-backed mission to fight gangs in Haiti is only operating at about 40% of its envisioned personnel capacity. The report also noted the tragic death of Kenyan police officers involved in the mission, further highlighting the dangerous conditions in Haiti.
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