Haiti Faces Surge in Gang Violence, Over 1,600 Killed in First Quarter of 2025

NEW YORK: In the first three months of 2025, gang violence in Haiti has reached devastating levels, with more than 1,600 people killed, according to a report from the United Nations. The majority of the victims were gang members, as criminal groups continue to fight for dominance in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and surrounding areas. The UN’s report highlighted that 1,617 people lost their lives, and 580 others were injured due to violence involving gangs, self-defense groups, and security force operations.

Haiti, already the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, is grappling with severe political instability, and large portions of the country are under the control of rival armed gangs, which engage in brutal acts of murder, rape, and kidnapping. Clashes have intensified in recent months as gangs battle to expand their territories.

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Despite efforts by a Kenyan-led international force, authorized by the UN, to quell the violence, the situation remains dire. The force, consisting of around 1,000 police officers from six countries, was initially intended to deploy 2,500 personnel but has been unable to effectively counter the gangs’ growing influence. The UN’s special representative to Haiti has warned that the country is nearing a “point of no return,” with the potential for “total chaos” looming on the horizon.