A new report launched by the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) on Friday says not less than 1,642 individuals have been killed and 745 others injured through the first three months of 2026.
The report highlights worsening insecurity throughout the nation, with violence persevering with to unfold past the capital into areas together with Artibonite and the Centre division.
“Regardless of safety advances in sure areas of downtown Port-au-Prince, insecurity is each day and insufferable for a lot of Haitians,” mentioned Carlos Ruiz Massieu, the Particular Consultant of the Secretary-Common in Haiti and Head of BINUH.
Gang violence spreads
In keeping with the report, gangs continued to commit widespread human rights abuses in areas underneath their management, together with focused killings, kidnappings, extortion and destruction of property.
One of the disturbing incidents documented entails the execution of a 13-year-old in March after the kid – who had reportedly been used as a gang “lookout” – flew a kite.
In Decrease Artibonite, coordinated gang assaults between 29 and 31 March focused 16 localities the place self-defence teams had been established. At the very least 83 residents have been killed and 38 injured.
“Total, gang members have been accountable for 27 per cent of these killed and injured through the quarter” mentioned UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq.
The report additionally paperwork widespread sexual violence, together with gang rape and sexual exploitation, affecting greater than 292 victims, primarily ladies and women between the ages of 12 and 17.
BINUH mentioned greater than 69 per cent of these killed or injured between January and March have been the results of operations carried out by safety forces towards gangs, at instances supported by a non-public navy firm utilizing drones.
The report states that 69 civilians, together with 5 kids, have been among the many victims of drone strikes.
Regardless of the deteriorating safety state of affairs, the report notes some progress inside Haiti’s judicial system.
In March, 14 judges have been appointed to newly established specialised judicial models tasked with addressing mass crimes and monetary crimes, following the appointment of 10 authorities prosecutors earlier this yr.
Illness outbreaks and support shortages worsen circumstances throughout Gaza and the West Financial institution
Overcrowded shelters, mounting waste and extreme shortages of fundamental provides are worsening well being circumstances throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
UNRWA, the UN company for Palestine refugees, warns that illness outbreaks and sanitation dangers are spreading throughout Gaza, the place instances of scabies, chickenpox and different pores and skin ailments are rising.
Rat bites are additionally being more and more reported at well being clinics, significantly in Khan Younis, Gaza Metropolis and North Gaza.
OCHA, the UN’s humanitarian affairs workplace, warned that restrictions on the entry of mills, engine oil and spare elements are driving widespread system failures, disrupting well being, sanitation and debris-removal operations.
Humanitarian companies proceed
Regardless of ongoing hostilities and operational constraints, UNRWA says it’s nonetheless offering essential humanitarian companies throughout Gaza and the occupied West Financial institution.
Round 11,000 Palestinian UNRWA personnel stay energetic within the Strip, whereas greater than 4,000 employees present schooling, well being and aid companies throughout the West Financial institution, together with East Jerusalem.
“We proceed to do every part attainable to guard households and preserve a protected, wholesome surroundings,” mentioned Bashar, a camp sanitation employee in Gaza.
Since October 2023, the company has delivered greater than 17.2 million well being consultations.
UNRWA reported offering safety companies to 4,265 survivors of gender-based violence and seven,340 kids, together with greater than 3,200 unaccompanied kids.
In Gaza, Israeli forces preserve a excessive degree of navy exercise, significantly within the north, the place a UNRWA faculty sheltering displaced individuals in Jabalia was reportedly struck by bullets, injuring two individuals inside the ability.
Within the occupied West Financial institution, together with East Jerusalem, the report additionally highlights ongoing violence. In keeping with OCHA, 1,088 Palestinians there, together with not less than 238 kids, have been killed since 7 October 2023.
UN pays tribute to Earth Champion David Attenborough on his 100th birthday
And eventually, the world paid tribute on Friday to a newly minted centurion, the famed naturalist Sir David Attenborough.
When he was far past most individuals’s retirement age, Sir David grew to become much more outspoken on the surroundings and the injury that we’re wreaking on the planet.
Effectively into his 90s, Mr. Attenborough was honoured for his work by the UN Surroundings Programme (UNEP), which presented him with the celebrated Champions of the Earth award in 2022.
“The world has to get collectively,” he mentioned. “These issues can’t be solved by one nation – irrespective of how massive that single nation is. We all know what the issues are and we all know how you can resolve them. All we lack is unified motion.”
Sir David celebrated his 100th birthday together with a lifetime of environmental advocacy, which has included massively influential and beloved documentaries produced for the BBC, together with Life on Earth, the Dwelling Planet and Our Blue Planet.
He mentioned on Thursday that he had been hoping for a quiet celebration. There was by no means a lot likelihood of that.
A congratulatory message from the UN Secretary-General António Guterres is only one of many tributes from main figures in science, politics and the humanities, a dwell occasion at London’s Royal Albert Corridor and the choice by the UK’s Pure Historical past Museum to call a newly found parasitic wasp Attenboroughnculus tau after him.
