The United Nations Special Representative to Haiti, Maria Isabel Salvador, has declared that the nation’s crisis has reached an alarming and critical point.
The dire assessment came during her presentation of the latest report from the UN political office in Haiti to the UN Security Council.
Escalating gang violence
Salvador’s report paints a grim picture of the escalating violence plaguing the Caribbean nation.
The data reveals that more than 8,400 individuals fell victim to gang-related violence in Haiti last year alone.
This figure represents 122 per cent increase compared to 2022.
Capital in turmoil
While the crisis has affected the entire nation, it is most pronounced in the capital city, Port-au-Prince.
Approximately 83 per cent of the unprecedented surge in killings and injuries occurred within the city limits. However, the violence has also spread to Artibonite, the largest of Haiti’s 10 departments.
Civilian vigilantism on the rise
Salvador also noted that since her briefing in October last year, at least 75 individuals have lost their lives due to civilian vigilante movements as defence against the gangs.
