at least 150 dead in a week in the capital Port-au-Prince

The violence in Haiti has left at least 150 dead in a week in the capital Port-au-Prince, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, expressed concern on Wednesday, denouncing “gang violence”. “At least 150 people were killed, 92 injured and some 20,000 had to flee their homes during the week” of November 11, he stressed, in a United Nations press release.

This new toll brings to 4,544 deaths and 2,060 injured the number of deaths in Haiti since the beginning of the year, according to the UN, which emphasizes that the real toll is “probably higher”. The UN says around 700,000 people are now internally displaced, half of whom are children. “The latest outbreak of violence in the Haitian capital is a harbinger of worse to come”estimates Mr. Türk in this press release. “Gang violence must be stopped quickly. Haiti must not sink further into chaos”he added.

Chronic political instability

This poor Caribbean country has suffered from chronic political instability for decades. But it must also face a new resurgence of gang violence, which controls 80% of the capital Port-au-Prince. These armed groups, accused of numerous murders, rapes, looting and kidnappings for ransom, decided at the beginning of the year to join forces to overthrow Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

A new prime minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, was sworn in on November 11. He promised to “restore security” in the country the day after the dismissal of his predecessor Garry Conille by the Presidential Transitional Council which is at the head of the executive of this country deprived of a president since 2021 and elections since 2016.

Armed gangs control around 80% of the city and regularly attack civilians despite the deployment of an international force under the leadership of Kenya. Mr. Türk also referred to press reports according to which the practice of lynching is on the rise. Authorities announced Tuesday that police and civil defense groups killed 28 gang members in Port-au-Prince after an overnight operation. “Gang violence must not prevail over state institutions”declared Mr. Türk, asking “concrete measures (…) to protect the population and restore an effective rule of law”.