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STORY: UN / HAITI UPDATE
TRT: 01:43
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 23 DECEMBER 2024, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
FILE – NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, United Nations headquarters
23 DECEMBER 2024, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, press briefing room
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Stephanie Tremblay, Associate Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, United Nations:
“In Haiti, our UN political office in the country – BINUH – and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights – OHCHR - have published an investigation report today, which looks at the wave of crimes committed by the Wharf Jérémie gang in Port-au-Prince earlier this month. According to the report, between 6 and 11 December, more than 207 people - 134 men and 73 women - were executed there. Most of them were elderly individuals accused of practicing voodoo and also accused of causing the gang leader’s child’s disease. Other victims included people who tried to flee the area, or who were suspected of having leaked information about these crimes to local media in Haiti. In a statement, María Isabel Salvador, our Special Representative in Haiti, called for accountability. She also stressed that these crimes touch the very foundation of Haitian society, targeting the most vulnerable populations. Since the beginning of the year, BINUH and OHCHR have recorded more than 5,350 people killed and more than [2,155] people injured as a direct result of acts of violence. The full statement and also the full report are both available online.”
4. Wide shot, end of press briefing
A United Nations investigation has revealed details of mass executions carried out by the Wharf Jérémie gang in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, earlier this month, a UN spokesperson said.
The joint report, published by the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), documents the killing of over 207 people—134 men and 73 women—between December 6 and 11.
“Most of them were elderly individuals accused of practicing voodoo and also accused of causing the gang leader’s child’s disease,” said Stephanie Tremblay, Associate Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, during a press briefing in New York today (23 Dec.)
Other victims included individuals attempting to flee the area and those suspected of leaking information about the crimes to local media.
María Isabel Salvador, the UN Special Representative in Haiti, emphasized the devastating societal impact of the violence. “She called for accountability and stressed that these crimes touch the very foundation of Haitian society, targeting the most vulnerable populations,” Tremblay stated.
The report adds to a grim toll of violence in Haiti this year. “Since the beginning of the year, BINUH and OHCHR have recorded more than 5,350 people killed and more than 2,155 people injured as a direct result of acts of violence,” Tremblay said.
The full report and accompanying statement are available online.
