William O’Neill, United Nations expert on the human rights situation in Haiti, has issued a new warning about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the country.
Returning from a field mission, he delivered an alarming assessment: “This brief visit allowed me to grasp the extent of the situation—not only its severity but, above all, the pain and despair of an entire population.”
The expert, who has visited Haiti four times since his appointment by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights two years ago, emphasized the growing threat posed by gangs. “Despite efforts by the Haitian National Police (PNH) and the National Mission for Security Support (MMAS), the risk of the capital falling under gang control is very real.”
According to O’Neill, criminal groups continue to spread terror with impunity. “They kill, rape, terrorize, set homes, orphanages, schools, hospitals, and places of worship on fire, recruit children, and infiltrate every sphere of society.” Many harrowing testimonies illustrate this brutal reality.
“P a 16-year-old girl, shared the horror she endured: “Seven armed and masked men entered my home in Kenscoff. They raped and beat my stepmother and me. Then, they killed my father in front of me. The pain is unbearable. Sometimes I forget; then it comes back. At night, I scream.” Today, she finds some solace in dancing and dreams of becoming a psychologist to help other young survivors like herself.
L. 12 years old, a child forcibly recruited by a gang, expressed a simple yet powerful wish: “I just want to go back to the streets.” Currently detained at the Juvenile Rehabilitation Center in Port-au-Prince, he is accused of gang affiliation. “I don’t want any more gangsters in my country. One day, I will be a pilot.”
Violence has displaced more than a million people, with thousands more forced to flee in recent weeks. “They have nowhere to go. In makeshift camps, hunger and sexual violence are rampant. For many, it’s just about surviving,” O’Neill warned.
In an environment of extreme tension, recent events highlight the growing desperation of the population. “Students recently stoned displaced people occupying their school to force them out, fearing they would not be able to return,” he reported, citing victim testimonies.
Faced with this dire situation, O’Neill stresses the urgent need for a unified response. “Unity and solidarity must guide political action at all levels, in the interest of the population.”
He urges the Haitian state to make the fight against impunity and corruption an absolute priority. “The fight against gangs must be carried out in strict compliance with international human rights law, particularly the right to life. No circumstance, however exceptional, should justify violating this fundamental right.”
O’Neill also calls on the international community to take immediate action. “There is not a single day to lose. There is no alternative. Haiti’s survival is at stake.”
