Geneva, Oct 3: More than 16,000 people have been killed in Haiti’s armed violence since 2022, and the United Nations has warned the situation could worsen further.

“The human rights situation in Haiti has deteriorated and abuse and violence have escalated since March,” UN human rights chief Volker Turk said.

Haiti, already mired in poverty and political instability, has long been plagued by violent gangs that carry out killings, rapes, kidnappings, and looting. According to UN monitoring, nearly 7,000 people have also been injured in armed clashes this year alone.

Turk warned that gang violence is spreading fear beyond the capital, Port-au-Prince, threatening to destabilize a wider region.

In response, the UN Security Council has approved transforming the UN-backed mission in Haiti into a full security force of up to 5,500 personnel, including police and soldiers. “It requires international commitment and support,” Turk stressed.

He condemned the “extremes of violence” involving gangs, civilians, and security forces. Since March, the Haitian government has increased its use of explosive drones in anti-gang operations in the capital. By mid-September, at least 559 people, including 11 children, had been killed in drone strikes, many of which Turk said violated international human rights law.

The killing of more than 500 alleged gang members by vigilante groups this year was also described as deeply concerning. Children, he added, remain particularly vulnerable to trafficking, exploitation, and forced gang recruitment.

“We can and must change this situation for the people of Haiti,” Turk urged.