Gang violence has killed at least 2,300 people in Haiti this year, while nearly 100 have been kidnapped, the United Nations said Monday.
UN human rights chief Volker Türk called on authorities to address widespread impunity in the crisis-torn Caribbean nation of 12 million people.
Haiti has been gripped by worsening gang violence since the assassination of then-President Jovenel Moïse in 2021.
Armed gangs now control most of Port-au-Prince and regularly carry out murders, rapes, robberies and kidnappings.
"In Haiti, gang violence has resulted in at least 2,300 deaths, 1,100 injuries and 99 kidnappings since the beginning of the year," Türk said.
“I call on the authorities to act quickly in the judicial units to combat impunity.”
“The Gang Suppression Force (GSF) is urgently needed and must operate in accordance with international human rights law,” said the UN high commissioner for human rights.
The UN Security Council last year gave approval to the new international GSF tasked with neutralizing the gangs.
The force will gradually replace the previous Multinational Mission to Support the Haitian Police (MMAS).
The council gave the green light to the GSF at the request of the United States last September, amid concerns that the MMAS was poorly equipped and funded.
An initial deployment plan has been approved, adhering to the ceiling of 5,500 troops and police officers authorized by the Security Council, with deployments to take place in phases.
