Port-au-Prince (EFE).- At least 1,520 people were killed and 609 injured in Haiti between April and June 2025, mostly in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, according to a new report from the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), which described the human rights situation as “extremely concerning.”
The report, released Friday, highlights a surge in violence fueled by armed gangs and warns of a deepening humanitarian crisis.
“These attacks continue to result in serious human rights violations and worsen an already extreme humanitarian situation,” said Ulrika Richardson, acting head of BINUH and UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti.
“The consequences are dramatic, especially for women and children,” she added.
Gang violence spreads beyond the capital
While the gangs’ expansion in Port-au-Prince has slowed slightly, the report says the situation remains volatile in several districts, including Kenscoff, located in the western department.
Armed groups have also expanded their reach into the Centre Department and the Lower Artibonite region, which is the largest department in Haiti by area and is recognized as the country’s primary rice-growing region.
According to the UN, the gangs are using killings, mass rapes, and kidnappings to assert control over communities.
From Apr. 1 to Jun. 30, at least 185 people were kidnapped and 628 were victims of sexual violence, including documented cases of sexual slavery, child exploitation, and trafficking.
Civilian deaths and allegations against police
About 64% of deaths and injuries occurred during security force operations against criminal groups, with over a third caused by explosive drone attacks.
At least 15% of the victims were civilians caught in the crossfire or attacked in their homes.
The report also points to serious concerns about police conduct.
At least four members of the security forces died during interventions, but some officers and a government commissioner in Miragoâne are accused of involvement in 73 summary executions.
Additionally, 12% of killings or injuries were linked to vigilante violence by self-defense groups, including those affiliated with the “Bwa Kalé” movement, targeting suspected gang members or collaborators.
Humanitarian crisis deepens as displacement grows
The UN says the violence continues to drive large-scale displacement, worsening Haiti’s already dire humanitarian conditions.
As of Jun. 30, more than 1.3 million people were internally displaced in the Caribbean nation of just over 11 million residents, already the poorest country in the Americas.
The UN urged the Haitian government and international partners to intensify efforts against gang violence while strictly adhering to human rights and rules of engagement.
It also called for the urgent creation of specialized judicial centers, background checks within the national police, and stronger protection measures for civilians.
The agency reiterated its call for full support of the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support Mission and greater international action against arms trafficking. EFE
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