UN Calls for Stricter Arms Control in Haiti Amid Rising Death Toll, Reports Reuters

By Sarah Morland

According to a United Nations report released on Friday, Haiti has experienced an alarming rise in violence, with nearly 13 people killed each day this year, as gang conflicts exacerbate the country’s humanitarian crisis. The report from the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights revealed that at least 3,451 individuals have lost their lives since January.

Commissioner Volker Turk expressed the urgency of the situation, stating, “No more lives should be lost to this senseless criminality.”

Haiti first sought international assistance in 2022, and a mission was approved a year ago; however, only a fraction of the promised troops have arrived, and financial resources remain limited. The Haitian government has requested that the U.N. consider transforming the current initiative into a formal peacekeeping mission to ensure consistent funding and resources.

Turk emphasized the necessity for the mission to have “adequate and sufficient equipment and personnel” to effectively combat and contain the gang violence that is disrupting daily life for citizens.

The initial deployment of the mission in June has reportedly led to gangs forcibly recruiting large numbers of children. The report indicated that nearly 100 children have been killed this year, either due to gang violence or police operations.

The violence is not contained to the capital; it has spread across the country, driven by illegal arms trafficking. While the primary source has been the United States, weapons are also heaved into Haiti from the Dominican Republic and Jamaica, despite an international arms embargo remaining in place.

The report highlighted that poorly monitored airspace, coastlines, and porous borders contribute to gangs acquiring high-caliber weapons, drones, boats, and an “endless supply of bullets.”

In terms of humanitarian impact, the number of internally displaced individuals has surged to over 700,000 in the past six months, and approximately 1.6 million people are facing severe food insecurity, standing at the brink of famine.