UN says human rights situation in Haiti is ‘extremely worrying’
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Two boys walk through a debris-filled street in Haiti, as worsening conditions spark global concern.
U.N. Raises Alarm Over Haiti Spiraling Human Rights Crisis
The United Nations has sounded the alarm on what it describes as a worsening human rights emergency in Haiti, as gang violence continues to engulf the Caribbean nation. The statement came on Friday from Farhan Haq, spokesperson for U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, during a press briefing in New York.
Thousands Killed Amid Ongoing Violence
Between April and June 2025 alone, at least 1,520 people lost their lives to gang-related violence across Haiti, according to Haq. An additional 609 individuals sustained injuries during the same period. The figures reflect a disturbing pattern of unchecked violence that continues to escalate, with innocent civilians bearing the brunt of the crisis.
Sexual Violence and Kidnappings on the Rise
The U.N. further reported that 185 kidnappings and 628 incidents of sexual violence were recorded in just three months. Victims include women, children, and even aid workers. Rights groups warn that these numbers likely underrepresent the true scale of abuses due to underreporting and lack of access to affected communities.
Nearly 5,000 Dead in Nine Months
From October 2024 to June 2025, the total death toll from gang violence in Haiti surpassed 4,800. The cumulative violence has left hundreds more injured, kidnapped, trafficked, or sexually assaulted. According to the U.N., these atrocities are occurring with alarming frequency, and the country’s fragile security framework has proven ineffective in containing the crisis.
Displacement Reaches Over a Million
In addition to the rising death toll, more than 1.3 million Haitians have been displaced from their homes over the past few years due to gang-related terror. Makeshift camps continue to grow around Port-au-Prince and other urban areas, where families live in precarious conditions with limited access to food, water, or healthcare.
Humanitarian Agencies Struggle to Respond
The U.N.’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has called for urgent international support to meet the growing needs of vulnerable Haitians. “We urge immediate support to sustain and expand our overall response to protect the most vulnerable,” Haq emphasized, noting that aid agencies are overstretched and underfunded.
Political Vacuum Deepens the Crisis
Haiti’s political paralysis has compounded the crisis. The country has not held general elections in nearly a decade. The last elected president, Jovenel Moïse, was assassinated at his private residence in July 2021. Since his death, gang activity has surged in both scale and brutality, filling the power vacuum left by the absence of functioning national leadership.
Lawlessness Undermines Governance
Gangs now exert control over large swaths of the country, including key roadways, neighborhoods, and public infrastructure. Armed groups routinely engage in extortion, armed robbery, and violent territorial disputes, making basic governance nearly impossible. Many state institutions have ceased operations in gang-dominated zones, leaving residents at the mercy of armed factions.
International Community Faces Pressure to Act
Global leaders and regional organizations face increasing pressure to intervene, whether through peacekeeping initiatives, humanitarian aid, or diplomatic measures to stabilize Haiti. So far, international efforts have struggled to match the scale of the crisis, and calls for a multinational force to restore order remain largely unfulfilled.
Hope Fades as Violence Intensifies
As the human toll continues to climb, many Haitians fear their country is nearing a complete breakdown. The U.N. has reiterated its commitment to supporting the Haitian people, but without a significant shift in political will and international coordination, the crisis shows little sign of abating.
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