Over 207 Executed in Port-au-Prince Massacre: UN Report
2024-12-23 | 12:00 EST
Port-au-Prince, Haiti – A United Nations report has revealed that over 207 individuals were executed during a horrific massacre in Port-au-Prince, underscoring the deteriorating security situation in Haiti.
The incident, which occurred on December 15, targeted the impoverished neighborhood of Cité Soleil, known to be a stronghold of armed gangs. According to the report, armed individuals entered the community and indiscriminately fired upon civilians, leaving dozens dead in the streets.
“The brutality of this attack is beyond comprehension,” said Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. “Individuals were summarily executed in their homes, businesses, and vehicles. Women and children were killed in cold blood.”
The report indicates that the perpetrators were members of the 400 Mawozo gang, one of Haiti’s most powerful criminal organizations. The gang has been linked to numerous kidnappings, extortion, and violence in the capital and surrounding areas.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of terror as the gunmen roamed the streets, shooting anyone in their path. Several bodies were found with execution-style gunshot wounds to the head.
“My family and I hid for hours in our home, listening to the gunfire and screams,” said a resident who witnessed the massacre. “We were terrified that we would be next.”
The UN report condemns the massacre as a “grave violation of human rights” and calls on the Haitian authorities to take immediate action to restore law and order. It also urges the international community to provide assistance to the victims and their families.
The Haitian government has expressed its outrage over the killings and has vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. However, critics have accused the government of failing to adequately address the security crisis, which has spiraled out of control in recent years.
The massacre is the latest in a series of violent incidents that have plagued Haiti in the past year. In July, the president, Jovenel Moïse, was assassinated in his home. Since then, the country has been engulfed in political instability and violence, with gangs seizing control of vast territories.
The UN has repeatedly called on the Haitian authorities to address the underlying causes of the crisis, including poverty, unemployment, and lack of access to basic services. However, these calls have yet to be met with significant action.
As the situation in Haiti continues to deteriorate, fears grow that the country could descend into further chaos and violence. The international community is urged to take swift action to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and support the Haitian people in their efforts to establish a peaceful and stable future.
Over 207 executed in Port-au-Prince massacre: UN report
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