At least 5,700 killed or wounded in Haiti gang crisis this year: UN

GENEVA, Oct 2: Haiti's gang violence crisis has left at least 5,700 people dead or wounded this year while more than 1,000 women and girls have been raped, UN rights chief Volker Turk said Friday.

The high commissioner for human rights said the casualties and rapes and 230 kidnappings had been recorded by the UN mission in Haiti up to September 11 and that "the real figures are likely much higher" as an international security force in the Caribbean island was undermanned.

"Despite some success in containing their activity in parts of the capital, Port-au-Prince, gangs continue to adapt and expand, re-emerging in new areas and constantly rearming," he told the UN Human Rights Council.

The UN Security Council has mandated a Gang Suppression Force intended to be 5,500 strong but it has struggled to find contributions. "The Force remains far below the strength needed" and needed "accelerated deployment", Turk said.�" AFP