Haiti under pressure: gangs and natural disasters worsen the humanitarian crisis

As the human rights crisis reaches alarming proportions in Haiti, the escalation of gang violence in the Central and Artibonite departments, combined with natural disasters, is plunging the country into a catastrophic humanitarian situation, the UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights warned on Thursday.

According to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the violence and instability have caused the displacement of more than 1.45 million people in this Caribbean country located on the island of Hispaniola. This represents an increase of one-third in less than a year.

“Access to water, food, healthcare, and education is out of reach for millions of Haitians, further undermining social cohesion and the rule of law,” said the UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif.