Escalating Gang Violence in Haiti Leads to Over 5,600 Deaths and Severe Humanitarian Crisis
In 2024, Haiti experienced a significant escalation in gang violence, resulting in the deaths of over 5,600 people. This surge in violence has created a severe humanitarian crisis, with widespread displacement and dire living conditions for many Haitians.
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The violence has been particularly intense in Port-au-Prince, where over 207 people were executed in a massacre on December 23, 2024. The UN has highlighted that the figures alone do not fully capture the horrors being perpetrated, emphasizing the unremitting nature of the violence.The humanitarian situation in Haiti has been dire, with nearly 580,000 people displaced due to gang violence. This displacement has exacerbated the need for humanitarian assistance, with approximately 5.5 million Haitians requiring aid, an increase from 5.2 million in the previous year.The international community has responded with various measures. The UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2752, extending sanctions and an arms embargo on Haiti to address the crisis. Additionally, the 2024 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for Haiti called for $674 million to address the humanitarian needs, although the appeal was significantly underfunded halfway through the year.
