Haiti Gang Crisis Leaves More Than 5,700 Dead or Injured in 2026 – UN

More than 5,700 people have been killed or injured in Haiti since the beginning of the year amid escalating gang violence and security operations against armed groups, according to the United Nations.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said the figure covered the period from January 1 to September 11, 2026, and warned that the actual number of casualties is likely to be significantly higher.

The UN also documented more than 230 kidnappings and more than 1,000 cases of rape involving women and girls during the reporting period.

Türk said gangs were continuing to adapt and expand their operations, including by moving into new areas and seeking control of territory and important transport routes.

He also raised concerns about casualties resulting from operations aimed at suppressing the gangs. More than half of all casualties recorded since January occurred in the context of security operations, with civilians among those struck by stray bullets and explosive drones, according to the UN.

The human rights chief said the violence was not limited to attacks carried out directly by gangs. Self-defence groups have also been responsible for deaths and injuries, with about 280 people reportedly killed or injured by such groups this year.

The UN has also expressed concern about the continued use of summary executions against people accused of links to armed groups, although it said executions attributed to specialised police units had fallen by almost half compared with 2025.

Children are also increasingly being drawn into the violence. Türk said the recruitment and use of children by gangs had nearly tripled in 2025, with children being exploited, trafficked and used by armed groups.

The security situation has contributed to a broader humanitarian crisis. Nearly 1.5 million people have been forcibly displaced across Haiti, while more than half of the population faces acute food insecurity, according to the UN.

The crisis has also raised questions about the country’s planned elections. Haiti is scheduled to hold presidential and legislative elections on December 13, 2026, its first national election in a decade.

Türk said the continuing violence made it difficult to envisage conditions for credible elections, while urging the international community to support the rapid deployment of the UN-mandated Gang Suppression Force.

The force is authorised to have up to 5,500 personnel, but only about 1,500 had been deployed as of the latest UN-related reporting. The Security Council recently extended its mandate until March 31, 2027, as Haiti struggles to contain powerful armed groups.

The UN chief also called for stronger action against the illegal flow of weapons and ammunition into Haiti, saying arms trafficking was helping sustain the violence.

With gangs continuing to expand their reach and millions of Haitians facing insecurity, displacement and food shortages, the UN has called for a broader response combining security measures with protection of civilians, accountability and humanitarian assistance.