The High Commissioner said the Haitian government also needed to make a firm commitment to accountability and the rule of law, after decades of “systemic corruption and pervasive punishment”, which led to the current paralysis. of the country.
He warned that Haiti had fallen into its worst humanitarian and human rights situation in decades. He stressed that urgent solutions to this “prolonged multifaceted crisis” must be found.
Insecurity wreaks havoc
“People are being killed by guns, they are dying because they don’t have access to safe drinking water, food, healthcare, women are being gang raped with impunity. The level of insecurity and the dire humanitarian situation has devastated the Haitian people,” said Türk.
Over the past two months, large armed gangs have blocked entrances to the country’s main fuel and seaports, severely hindering access to drinking water, food and medicine.
Food insecurity is on the rise, with a record 4.7 million – nearly half the population – facing severe hunger. Poor sanitation and a lack of clean water supply have led to an uncontrollable cholera outbreak.
To date, 2,600 suspected cases of cholera have been reported, half of which were children, and claimed dozens of lives.
Gang violence continues to expand across the capital and other parts of the country.
Dozens of people were killed
In just over a week in mid-October, more than 71 people were killed, dozens of women raped, and hundreds of residents were forced to flee their homes, as a result of gang wars. rival in Croix-des-Bouquets, one of the main communes of the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, according to the Human Rights Service of the United Nations Office in Haiti (BINUH).
“Kidnapping and sexual violence by gang members are being used as weapons to inflict intense pain and frighten people,” the High Commissioner said.
“There is a great need to address the root causes of inequality and violence, including those that have crippled the country’s development for decades.”
Latest Security Council resolution 2653 (2022) passed last monthEstablishing a sanctions regime targeting individuals and entities that engage in or support criminal and violent activity – along with a targeted arms embargo – is an important step, said Türk..
Violent response to protests
Hundreds of thousands of people have been protesting since late August to protest against government policies, rising costs of living and growing insecurity, the UN human rights office said. OHCHRadded that according to information received, at least 54 people were killed during the protests, most of which were attributed to the disproportionate use of force by police officers.
Political violence has also been documented with the killing of prominent political leaders and journalists.
“Police must always respect the principles of precaution, necessity and proportionality when using force,” Mr. Türk said. “Fast, thorough and effective investigations need to be established and those responsible for the unnecessary or disproportionate use of force held accountable.”
Mandatory Refund Suspension: UNHCR’s Grandi
In light of the crisis, the United Nations refugee agency on Thursday called on countries in the region and beyond to suspend the forced return of Haitians to their countries.
Given the current situation, “I call on all countries to unite with Haiti and urge them not to send Haitians back to an extremely fragile country,” said High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi.
Haitian women, children and men abroad and returning to Haiti may face life-threatening health and security risks, and additional displacement within the country.
Forcibly sending people to a place where they could face the risk of abuse, torture or other serious or irreparable harm is considered “reimbursement”, which is strictly prohibited. clearly under international human rights and refugee law, UNHCR speak.
International law also prohibits collective expulsion and arbitrary detention associated with it.
ECOSOC advisory group ‘deeply concerned’
Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti, meeting under the auspices of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) also issued a statement calling on the international community to urgently support the country’s efforts to provide life-saving aid to those in need.
“We are alarmed that continued blockade of major roads, ports and oil terminals by armed gangs will lead to many preventable deaths from lack of access to water,” the group said. clean and suitable sanitary conditions, basic health care and food”. of the 21 countries involved.
“Pregnant women and their infants are at significant risk. Most poor households, already vulnerable to inflation and low-wage employment, continue to be disproportionately affected. Alarmingly, the famine has reached catastrophic levels in the Cité Soleil neighborhood of the capital.”
The group said it welcomes the efforts of the Government, with the support of the United Nations as well as other international, national and local civic organisations, “to address the humanitarian needs of the people”. population and strengthen an effective cholera response based on the experience of national and professional authorities. “
Members called for greater solidarity with the Haitian people and support for humanitarian and cholera response activities in Haiti, including a donation in 2022. Haiti’s humanitarian response plan which received only 36% of the $373.2 million requested.
