UN Condemns Rising Death Toll on Haiti Over Gang Violence

The United Nations condemned the rising death toll in Haiti amid the gang violence that continues to take place in the country.

The UN issued a statement about the issue on Saturday, claiming that the agency is "deeply concerned" about the worsening gang violence in Haiti. The agency also noted the recent death toll amid the unrest in Cite Soleil, a neighborhood in Port-au-Prince, recorded 99 people killed, per Associated Press.

The agency added that there were also 135 injured, citing data from the UN Humanitarian Affairs Coordination Office (OCHA) in Haiti.

On Saturday, UN's High Commissioner for Refugees Jeremy Laurence confirmed that there were at least 234 more people killed or injured from July 8 to 12 in Cite Soleil. Furthermore, the OCHA reported that 99% of recent casualties in the said neighborhood were deaths.

Laurence underscored that most of the victims were not related to gangs in Haiti.

Meanwhile, the commissioner also noted that there were 934 killings, 684 injuries, and 680 kidnappings in Haiti from January to June this year.

Laurence then urged the authorities in Haiti to ensure that fundamental rights are protected in the light of the gang violence.

"The right to life is the supreme right under international human rights law, and the State has a duty to protect that right, including from threats emanating from private individuals and entities," Laurence pointed out.

UN Bans Small Arms Sales in Haiti Amid Gang Violence

The UN also banned selling small arms in Haiti amid the unrest in Port-au-Prince.

According to BBC, the banned weapons in Haiti are small arms, light weapons, and ammunition for anyone in the country who supports gang violence and criminal activity.

The said resolution from the UN was adopted in Haiti on Friday. Reports noted that the ban on small arms was proposed by the United States and Mexico.

In addition, the UN resolution also extended the mandate of the UN special political mission to Haiti for another year.

Haiti Gang Violence

The recent gang violence in Haiti started when rival groups tried to seek control of the country's capital Port-au-Prince. Gangs stepped up their rivalry in Cite Soleil when members of G9 stormed a territory of G-Pep, in an effort to unseat its leader, Ti Gabriel.

Both Groups formed alliances with local gangs, increasing their strength in terms of weaponry, manpower, and resources.

Hundreds of protesters in recent days burned tires and blocked roads as they demanded urgent actions to restore the supply of gasoline.

The unrest also affected the food supply in Haiti, with gangs blocking the roads leading to the country's southern peninsula, causing the UN to distribute food assistance through sea routes.

The water supply was also affected by the ongoing gang violence in the country, leaving thousands of residents in the Brooklyn neighborhood.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Haitians Protest After Gang Violence Kills Dozens in a Week - From Al Jazeera English