Displaying items by tag: drone strikes

Haiti continues to face severe insecurity as armed gangs control large areas of the capital, Port-au-Prince. In efforts to confront the violence, Haitian security forces, supported by private contractors, have used quadcopter drones carrying explosives in anti-gang operations since March last year. According to a report by Human Rights Watch (HRW), these strikes have killed at least 1,243 people (including sixty civilians) and injured 738. Many of the attacks have occurred in densely populated neighbourhoods, raising serious concerns about civilian casualties. One strike reportedly killed nine people, including three children, and injured several others. Residents describe the devastating impact on families living in gang-controlled areas. HRW and UN officials have warned that some strikes appear disproportionate and may violate international law. The UN has also indicated that there are currently no clear signs that these incidents are being formally investigated.