Port-au-Prince, Haiti – A shocking wave of violence over the weekend has left nearly 200 people dead, reportedly targeting voodoo practitioners in a massacre described by the government as an act of “unbearable cruelty.” The killings were allegedly orchestrated by a powerful gang leader, who believed that followers of the religion were responsible for his son’s illness, according to the Committee for Peace and Development (CPD).
This horrific incident is part of a broader pattern of extreme violence perpetrated by gangs that now control approximately 80 percent of Haiti’s capital. The country, long plagued by political instability and natural disasters, has seen violence escalate despite a Kenyan-led police support mission, which has received backing from the United States and the United Nations.
In response to the massacre of voodoo practitioners, UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged Haiti authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and called for increased international support for local police forces in their struggle against gang violence.
The crisis in Haiti has resulted in over 700,000 internally displaced persons, half of whom are children. The recent violence has displaced an additional 5,000 people, as reported by the International Organization for Migration. The toll of violence in Haiti this year has reached approximately 5,000 deaths, highlighting the urgent need for effective intervention and support to restore peace and security in the region.
