Gangs in Haiti continue to terrorise communities with the “wanton, intentional infliction of incredible pain” on people who often are just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
That’s according to the Designated Human Rights Expert for Haiti, William O’Neill, who spoke to UN News ahead of the release of a new report which reveals that at least 613 people were killed and another 375 were injured in just two neighbourhoods of the capital, Port-au-Prince, during a 4.5-month period up to 31 July.
More than one-third of the victims were individuals not associated with gangs, including 111 women and 77 children.
Gangs control most of Port-au-Prince and some of the surrounding areas.
More than 176 women and girls were victims of rape committed by gang members, “often as a form of punishment against people living in areas controlled by rival gangs,” the report said.
More than 18,000 people were also forced to flee their homes.
A number of individual cases have been highlighted by UN human rights monitors in the report, published by the UN’s political office in Haiti, known by its French acronym, BINUH.
‘Wanton, intentional infliction of incredible pain’ by gangs in Haiti | UN News
(UN News)
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