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Port-au-Prince.- Between June 1 and August 31, the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (Binuh) recorded 2,123 homicides throughout the country, including 161 women, 16 girls and 29 boys, which represents a 10% decrease compared to the 2,364 victims recorded between March and May of this year.
This is what the latest quarterly report published this Wednesday by the United Nations Organization (UN) in Haiti reveals, which highlights that the number of homicides has increased alarmingly in the departments of Artibonite and Centre, where 1,303 victims were recorded between January and August of this year, compared to 419 in the same period of 2024, which represents an increase of 210%.
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In addition, according to the report, between June 1 and August 31, gangs kidnapped 334 people, including 69 women, 10 girls and 14 boys, compared to the 328 kidnappings recorded in the previous three months. Also, the study notes that between June and September 2025, at least 733 people died in Haiti and another 423 were injured in security forces operations against gangs. 78% of the victims were gang members, while 22% were residents affected by stray bullets in their homes or during their daily activities. Between March 1st and September 20th, drone operations caused at least 547 deaths (527 alleged gang members and 20 members of the population, including 11 children) and 489 injuries (461 alleged gang members and 28 members of the population, including 9 children). On the other hand, between May and August 2025, 582 cases of sexual violence were reported. The UN highlighted that the activities and expansion of gangs have slowed down in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, but that they have continued to spread through the peripheral areas of the capital, as well as through the departments of Artibonite and Centre. "Armed violence continues to threaten the ongoing transition. Sustainable progress on the political and electoral front cannot be achieved without a significant improvement in the security situation," recalled the UN. The institution reiterated that it is necessary to make crucial decisions with a view to the deadline of February 7, 2026 for the re-establishment of democratic institutions. "Haiti cannot afford a political vacuum," warned the UN. The report states that there is still no schedule for the elections, although technical preparations continue. "Only a dialogue led and controlled by Haitians can lead the process of restoring democratic governance," the UN indicated. Regarding the situation of the country's security forces, as of August 31, the Haitian National Police had 13,501 agents, of whom 1,776 were women (13.2%). Between June and August, the Haitian National Police reported the loss of 27 officers, 13 of whom were shot dead. Furthermore, according to the UN, serious operational deficiencies persist: of the 116 armored vehicles, 25 are not operational, 23 were destroyed during operations, and 2 are reportedly in the hands of gangs. Of the 413 police stations in the country, 79 remain non-operational, the document underlines. "The situation in Haitian prisons remains disastrous, characterized by severe overcrowding, lack of ventilation, limited access to healthcare, and food shortages, which has contributed to a high number of deaths," estimated the UN.
