UNITED NATIONS –
The UN human rights office on Saturday expressed concern over rising violence around Haiti’s capital, saying 99 people have been killed in recent clashes between rival gangs in the Cite Soleil district alone.
The warning came hours after the UN Security Council unanimously approved a resolution renewing the mandate of a UN office in the troubled Caribbean nation and calling on all countries to stop the transfer of small arms, weapons light weapons and ammunition to anyone who supports gang violence and criminals. exercise.
UN humanitarian agencies said they were ready to help communities in conflict once it was safe to do so, and Jeremy Laurence, a spokesman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, exposed those dangers.
“So far we have documented, from January to the end of June, 934 murders, 684 injuries and 680 kidnappings throughout the capital,” he said on Saturday. Furthermore, “During a five-day period, from July 8 to 12, at least 234 more people were killed or injured in gang-related violence in the Cite Soleil area of the city.”
He said most of the victims “were not directly involved in gangs” but rather were targeted by them.
Separately, the UN humanitarian affairs office reported that 99 of the recent casualties in Cite Soleil were fatalities.
Laurence called on the gangs to stop the violence, while urging Haitian authorities to ensure that fundamental human rights are “placed front and center in their responses to the crisis. The fight against impunity and sexual violence, along with strengthening human rights monitoring and reporting, must remain a priority,” he said.
The Security Council resolution drafted by the United States and Mexico passed 15-0 on Friday. He demanded an immediate end to gang violence and criminal activities, a point highlighted by China.
“Heavily armed gangs are becoming more sophisticated in their actions, carrying out simultaneous, coordinated and organized attacks in different areas,” said Laurence.
The government, he said, has the duty to protect the right to life of citizens even from threats that come from private entities.
UN agencies said some gangs even deny access to clean water and food to control the population, exacerbating malnutrition.
Deputy US Ambassador Richard Mills said the new resolution will allow the UN mission to promote political dialogue and strengthen the Haitian National Police’s ability to control gang violence and protect human rights. .
A year after the unsolved assassination of President Jovenel Moise, gang violence has worsened and many Haitians have tried to flee a country that appears to be in economic and social freefall. Attempts to form a coalition government have failed and efforts to hold general elections have stalled.
The United Nations has been involved in Haiti on and off since 1990, with the last UN peacekeeping mission in the country from 2004 to October 2017. The political mission now there advises the Haitian government on promoting of political stability and good governance.