Over a thousand six hundred people, half of whom were gang members, died in Haiti during the first three months of 2025, as criminal organizations further intensify their efforts to extend their territorial control, the UN said Wednesday.

Between 1 January and 31 March, ‘1,617 people were killed and (ed. Others) 580 were injured in violent incidents involving gangs, (ed. Paramons) Legal Defense Organizations, Undeclared Population Members, as well as during Security Forces’ operations »according to the quarterly report of the United Nations Political Mission to the Country of the Caribbean (Binuh).

These numbers are reduced compared to both the previous quarter (1,741 dead) and the first quarter of 2024 (2,505), but the intensity of violence does not necessarily evolve in a linear manner, has fluctuations depending on gang action and tBusinesses of the forces of enforcement.

“Between January and March 2025, despite numerous deaths in their ranks (936), gangs intensified their efforts to extend their territorial control to its metropolitan area. (capital of the capital) Port-o-Prenz and on its surroundings’, It is emphasized in the report.

Two neighborhoods were specifically targeted “The conquest of which would facilitate their passage to the Petion-Bill community”, which is one ‘In the last areas’ which remain unhappy with gang action and have not been under their control – there they have their headquarters, foreign embassies, banks and state institutions.

Gangs launched parallel to late March ‘Heavy attacks’ in communities Mirbale and so thein the central part of the country, so that “Control access to the border with the Dominican Republic”more specifically part of the area “Nearly 70 kilometers”.

Still, the UN underlines “Three dynamics of violent episodes and law violations” that were clearly distinguished in 2024 and now ‘Consolidated’:

  • violence attributed to gang actions (35% of deaths and injuries),
  • the one due to police operations against gangs and ‘Executions’ attributed to police (56%) and also
  • The one associated with actions of paramilitary organizations of legal defense, especially the movement that has been baptized ‘Bouas Kale’ (9%).

As the police, who is at a purely disadvantaged position, attempts to regain control, the report expresses concern for at least 65 ‘Out -of -court executions’ which were made ‘With summary procedures’ or in manner ‘Arbitrary’including “two teenagers”, attributed to members of the class enforcement forces (pp. 12-13).

When ‘They were executed’the victims were unarmed and were not involved in violent actions, the UN report is underlined.

Haiti, the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, has been shaken here for years by gang violence, which attributes murders, rape, looting and kidnapping for ransom, a situation that worsened by the perpetual political instability.

In 2024, the UN recorded:

  • over 5,600 homicides associated with gang action (+20% compared to 2023),
  • 1,500 abductions, over 6,000 of gender -based violence (69% were sexual attacks) as well as
  • A frightening increase (+70%) of forced recruitment of children by armed groups.
  • At the same time, over a million people are now internally displaced, a number increased by 48% compared to September 2024.

In the first quarter of 2025, 319 cases of sexual violence with 333 survivors were recorded, especially group rape, a number increased by 254% compared to the previous quarter, the Binuh report is also noted in the Binuh report.