Haiti: BINUH warns of an out-of-control crisis

The latest report from the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) paints a grim picture of a country on its knees, where gang violence is spreading and the civilian population is paying a heavy price. Between summary executions, massive displacements, and serious human rights violations, the recently published document calls for urgent action from the Haitian government and the international community. A country under gang fire The figures are chilling: 1,247 people were killed and 710 injured during the period studied, according to data compiled by BINUH. Armed gangs are responsible for nearly a third of these deaths, while self-defense groups and police operations have also contributed to the rising toll. Despite resistance in certain neighborhoods like Delmas 19 or Route de l’Aéroport, criminal gangs continue to sow terror in the capital and extend their control into rural areas, particularly in Artibonite and Centre. Sexual violence and child trafficking, used as weapons of domination, persist. The report also mentions 39 civilians killed by explosive drone strikes and 79 extrajudicial executions attributed to police officers, an alarming observation on the security drift and impunity within law enforcement. Direct consequence: more than 1.4 million people have had to flee their homes across the country, a massive displacement that exacerbates an already out-of-control humanitarian crisis. Justice in search of resources and credibility Faced with this security hemorrhage, the government is trying to react. Ten government commissioners have been recruited to strengthen specialized judicial centers in the fight against mass crimes, sexual violence, and financial crimes. But these efforts remain timid given the gravity of the situation and the scale of the challenge. The Haitian judicial system, plagued by corruption and lack of resources, struggles to ensure accountability and the protection of fundamental rights. Strong recommendations, a call to action BINUH urges the Haitian government to step up its efforts:

• Fully operationalize specialized judicial centers;
• Bring police officers involved in serious human rights violations to justice;
• Strengthen coherence and discipline within security forces;
• Implement a national disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) program with the support of the international community.

The report also emphasizes the crucial role of the international community, called upon to keep Haiti on the global agenda and support the full deployment of the Multinational Security Force (FRG), authorized by the UN Security Council. Finally, regional states are invited to strengthen controls on cargo destined for Haiti — ports, airports, and border areas — to stop the flow of weapons fueling the gangs. A national and international emergency Beyond the figures and recommendations, the BINUH report sounds like a cry for help. Haiti, strangled by violence and abandoned by its institutions, needs a collective awakening. Without a coordinated response between the state, civil society, and the international community, the country risks sinking even deeper into chaos. “The time for speeches is over; it is time for action,” the report essentially concludes. A vital urgency for the Haitian people who have suffered too much.