United Nations condemns attack that killed at least 47 people in Haiti

Washington, August 25 (KUNA) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday condemned an attack carried out by gangs in the Kenskoff area on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, which left at least 47 people dead. In a statement, the Secretary-General’s spokesperson said that “the ongoing gang attacks on communities and the loss of life highlight the alarming security situation in Haiti and underscore the urgent need to intensify Haitian and international security efforts to counter the gangs.” The statement quoted Guterres as renewing his call on Haitian authorities to ensure accountability for those responsible for such attacks, including through recently established specialized judicial units, supported internationally, to investigate mass crimes. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarrik said at the daily press briefing that humanitarian workers on the ground in Haiti are cooperating with communities and local authorities to verify information and assess the needs of the population in the wake of the horrific violence that occurred the day before yesterday. In the same context, the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti reported in its quarterly briefing that at least 1,408 people were killed and 656 others injured as a result of violence during the second quarter of 2026. The report noted that gang attacks across Haiti were responsible for more than half of the recorded killings and injuries during that period. The Office stressed in its report the importance of keeping Haiti on the international agenda and accelerating the full deployment of the anti-gang force. It called for progress in investigations into mass crimes, emphasizing that any use of force, whether by law enforcement officials or other actors acting on behalf of the state, must comply with the provisions of international human rights law. (End) A.M.M. / M.A.A.