The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti has reported that at least 1,642 people were killed and 745 others injured in Haiti during the first quarter of 2026.
In its latest assessment, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Haiti and head of BINUH Carlos Ruiz Massieu said insecurity remains “daily and unbearable” for many Haitians, with violence spreading beyond the capital, Port-au-Prince, into regions including Artibonite and the Centre.
He noted that while security operations have limited gang expansion in parts of downtown Port-au-Prince, armed groups continue to exert control over several areas and are responsible for widespread human rights abuses.
Gangs responsible for killings, kidnappings and sexual violence
According to the report, gangs have continued to carry out targeted killings, kidnappings, extortion and destruction of property in areas under their control.
One case highlighted was the execution of a 13-year-old child in March, described as a gang “lookout,” reportedly killed after flying a kite.
Between 29 and 31 March alone, coordinated attacks in Lower Artibonite targeted 16 localities, resulting in at least 83 deaths and 38 injuries. Some victims were reportedly taken from their homes at night and executed in front of family members.
The report said gangs were responsible for 27 per cent of total killings and injuries recorded in the period. It also documented more than 292 victims of sexual violence, including gang rapes and sexual exploitation, mainly affecting women and girls aged 12 to 17.
BINUH also attributed a large share of violence to security operations. It estimated that more than 69 per cent of deaths and injuries were linked to operations carried out by security forces against armed groups, in some cases involving drone strikes.
Among those affected were 69 civilians, including five children. Two girls aged seven and nine were among the seriously injured after a drone reportedly fell in a residential yard in Martissant.
The report also cited allegations of extrajudicial killings involving police officers, resulting in 33 deaths and seven injuries. Investigations have been opened by the Inspectorate General of the Haitian National Police.
Judicial and institutional developments
Despite the security situation, the report noted some progress in Haiti’s justice system, including steps toward operationalising two specialised judicial units targeting mass crimes and financial offences.
In March, 14 judges were appointed to the units by the Superior Council of the Judiciary, following the earlier appointment of 10 prosecutors in January.
Investigations into the Wharf Jérémie massacre, in which at least 207 people were killed in December 2024, also advanced, with arrest warrants issued against ten individuals in March 2026.
BINUH stressed the need to accelerate judicial reforms, strengthen oversight of security operations, and improve protections for vulnerable populations, including children associated with gangs.
The report also urged the international community to maintain attention on Haiti’s crisis and intensify efforts to combat arms trafficking into the country, warning that the scale of violence remains a serious threat to stability and human rights.
