UN and Aid Groups Warn of Escalating Brutality in Haiti

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Feb 26, 2025 (BSS/AFP) – Haiti is experiencing a surge in extreme brutality, with widespread killings and mass displacements, according to a warning issued by UN agencies, NGOs, and international donors.

In a statement released Monday, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and its partners described harrowing scenes of violence.

“Entire families have been brutally wiped out in their homes, while others, including children and babies, have been shot dead as they tried to escape,” the statement detailed.

Gang Violence Engulfs the Capital

Gangs currently control vast portions of Haiti, including most of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and violence has intensified despite the deployment of a Kenya-led multinational security support mission (MSS).

Since late January, thousands of Haitians have fled their homes, including 4,000 people from Kenscoff and 2,000 more from Delmas, Port-au-Prince, and Pétion-Ville.

The humanitarian group called on all parties to break the cycle of terror and end the unchecked violence.

“We are deeply alarmed and dismayed by the unacceptable and inhuman intensity of the violence raging in Haiti,” the statement read.

On Monday night, fresh attacks targeted several neighborhoods. Residents recounted horrifying incidents, including homes being set on fire with people trapped inside.

“They set fire to our house with my father inside. It’s cruel,” said one resident who managed to escape.

Another survivor described a pre-dawn attack when vigilante forces were caught off guard.

“The bandits attacked us by surprise,” she said.

A Country in Crisis

Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, has long struggled with political instability and gang violence, but conditions drastically worsened last year when gangs launched coordinated attacks to force the resignation of then-Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

Henry stepped down, making way for an interim government, which, along with MSS forces, has been unable to regain full control.

Challenges Facing the MSS

The UN-approved MSS currently has around 1,000 personnel from six nations, with Kenya providing the majority of forces. This is far fewer than the 2,500 originally expected.

The mission suffered a setback on Sunday, when a Kenyan officer was killed in a gun attack.

UN officials continue to appeal for greater international support, warning that Haiti is on the brink of total collapse. Last year, gang violence claimed 5,600 lives, a 20% increase from 2023, and 1,500 kidnappings were recorded. Additionally, 6,000 gender-based violence cases were reported, with 69% classified as sexual assault.

Urgent Humanitarian Needs

With one million people displaced, the UN recently launched an appeal for over $900 million in humanitarian aid for Haiti in 2025—a sharp increase from last year, when only 44% of requested funds were met.

Haitian Government Vows to Fight Back

On Monday, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé acknowledged the dire situation, declaring that authorities were “at war” with the gangs.

“We are relentlessly committed to enabling the police, the army, and the MSS to put gangs out of action,” he vowed in a speech marking his 100 days in office.

However, with gang control tightening and international response lagging, Haiti’s crisis remains far from over.