UN Reports Shocking Death Toll in Port-au-Prince Gang Violence
The United Nations has confirmed a staggering death toll of 207 from a mass killing in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, which occurred between December 6 and 11 in the Wharf Jeremie neighborhood of the Cite Soleil slum. The victims, including many older individuals and Vodou leaders, were reportedly abducted from their homes and a place of worship by a local gang led by Micanor Altes, also known as "King Micanor."
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the gang interrogated their captives before executing them with bullets and machetes, then disposing of their bodies at sea. Initially, human rights groups estimated over 100 deaths, but the UN’s investigation offered a more harrowing count: 134 men and 73 women.
UN officials have condemned the violence, with María Isabel Salvador, the Secretary-General’s representative, calling for a thorough investigation and prosecution of those responsible. The Haitian government also acknowledged the tragedy and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The situation in Haiti has become increasingly perilous, leading to international concern. The UN Security Council expressed deep worries about the country’s ongoing crisis, marked by rampant gang violence and food insecurity. In light of growing dangers, some UN personnel have been evacuated, and the Port-au-Prince airport has temporarily closed due to shootings affecting planes.
The recent killings are part of a broader pattern of escalating violence, with over 5,358 deaths reported this year alone due to gang-related incidents. The Caribbean nation remains unstable since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021, leaving a transitional government unable to control significant areas of the capital as gangs vie for power. As the international community contemplates intervention options, the people of Haiti continue to face immense insecurity.
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Photo credit www.aljazeera.com
