Haiti’s bishops have spoken out against the devastating violence plaguing their country, which is expected to result in a staggering 5,000 murders by the end of 2024. In a powerful statement, the bishops denounced the “dehumanizing violence” that has become all too common in Haiti, leaving many families in extreme poverty, without hope, and facing unimaginable brutality.
The bishops urged all citizens to remain hopeful and to be “witnesses of hope” in the face of this violence, which is largely perpetrated by organized criminal gangs. They also called on these gangs to stop their violent acts, and on those who supply them with weapons to cease their support. Furthermore, the bishops appealed to civil authorities to work in the best interests of the country, to control the borders, and to put an end to the problem of insecurity.
The international community was also urged to remember its promises and commitments to help Haiti emerge from this cycle of violence and isolation. Tragically, the bishops’ statement was followed by a horrific massacre in the Cité Soleil neighborhood, which left at least 184 people dead. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, condemned this atrocity, noting that it has brought the total number of people killed in Haiti by criminal violence this year to a staggering 5,000.