The recent brutal attack by the Gran Grif gang in Haiti has left at least 70 people dead, including 10 women and three infants. The gang members reportedly set fire to 45 houses and 34 vehicles during the attacks, forcing many residents to flee for their lives. Thameen Al-Kheetan, in a statement released in Geneva, called for a thorough investigation into the attack, holding those responsible accountable, and providing reparations for the victims and their families.
This horrific incident is just one example of the widespread violence and human rights violations that have been plaguing Haiti. Indiscriminate gang violence has led to a sharp increase in human rights abuses and a large-scale displacement of people within the country. More than 700,000 individuals have been forced to flee their homes due to the violence, making Haiti the country with the highest number of displacements globally as a result of crime-related violence.
The mass displacement of people has created a state of widespread insecurity in Haiti, with nearly half of the country’s 11.9 million population in desperate need of humanitarian assistance. The violence perpetrated by gangs has spread beyond the capital city of Port-au-Prince to isolated rural areas, with reports of sexual violence, kidnapping, looting, roadblocks, and forced recruitment by armed groups.
The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, has been calling for increased attention, support, and solutions for the Haitian population affected by violence and insecurity. Raouf Mazou, UNHCR’s Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, emphasized the urgent need for collective support for the people of Haiti, stating that “we cannot turn a blind eye” to their suffering. Mazou underscored the importance of enhanced security, increased funding, and international solidarity to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance and restore stability and hope in Haiti.
Despite the escalating crisis in Haiti, funding for the country’s humanitarian response remains critically low. The 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan, which calls for $674 million in funding, is currently only 39 percent funded. UNHCR is urging the international community to step up its support to address the humanitarian needs in Haiti and to find solutions for the displaced populations within the country as well as those fleeing Haiti.
The situation in Haiti highlights the urgent need for a coordinated and comprehensive response to address the root causes of violence and insecurity in the country. The international community must come together to provide the necessary support and resources to assist the people of Haiti in rebuilding their lives and creating a more stable and secure future for all. Only through collective action and solidarity can we hope to bring an end to the cycle of violence and displacement that has plagued Haiti for far too long.
