According to the report, the current crisis began escalating sharply in October 2024 and has now spread well beyond the capital, Port-au-Prince. “The escalating gang violence outside Port-au-Prince… has claimed over 1,000 lives and forced hundreds of thousands to flee,” said Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office.

While the capital remains a hotspot, violence in rural regions—where government presence is minimal—has rapidly worsened. The UN identified a mass killing in Pont-Sondé, in the Lower Artibonite region, as a major turning point.

In one of the most shocking episodes, the town of Mirebalais in the Centre department saw all 100,000 residents flee, turning it into a ghost town. This symbolic collapse highlights the deepening humanitarian emergency in Haiti.

UN Demands Coordinated Global Response

The report also raised concern over “self-defense” groups that emerged to fight gangs but are now responsible for their own human rights violations. The UN said this dual violence underscores the need for urgent, coordinated international assistance.

“The human rights violations and abuses that we have documented are further evidence of why Haiti and the international community urgently need to step up,” Shamdasani said, warning that failure to act could result in irreversible societal collapse.

While the Haitian government struggles to restore order, the UN continues to advocate for protective and stabilization measures to safeguard civilians and prevent further displacement.