UN decries rising death toll, rights violations in Haiti

The UN says at least 234 people were killed or injured in gang-related violence from July 8 to 12 in Port-au-Prince.

The United Nations human rights office has expressed concern about rising violence around Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, saying 99 people have been reported killed in recent fighting between rival gangs in the Cite Soleil district alone.

The warning on Saturday came hours after the UN Security Council unanimously approved a resolution renewing the mandate of a UN office in the Caribbean nation and calling on all countries to stop the transfer of small arms, light weapons and ammunition to anyone there supporting gang violence and criminal activity.

UN humanitarian agencies said they were ready to help embattled communities once it is safe to do so.

“We have so far documented, from January to the end of June, 934 killings, 684 injuries and 680 kidnappings across the capital,” Jeremy Laurence, spokesman for the UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees, said on Saturday.

In addition, “Over a five-day period, from 8-12 July, at least 234 more people were killed or injured in gang-related violence in the Cite Soleil area of the city.”

He said most of the victims “were not directly involved in gangs” but were targeted by them.

SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES