Pourcine Pic-Macaya – One million and 400 thousand people forced to abandon their homes today live as internally displaced persons, and over 5,500 have died in 2025 alone. These are the alarming figures released in a recent report by the United Nations Office for Human Rights , which confirms the violence that has been rampant on the Caribbean island for years by armed groups who have consolidated their power on important sea and road routes. According to the report sent to Fides, the violence involves criminal gangs, security forces, private security cotractors, and self-defence groups.
According to data verified by the Office, at least 5,519 people were killed in Haiti and 2,608 injured between 1 March 2025 and 15 January 2026. During the past 12 months, gangs have expanded beyond the capital Port-au-Prince, pushing into its outskirts and moving north into the Artibonite and Centre departments, the report states. They continue to terrorize the population by killing and kidnapping people, trafficking children, stealing at illegal checkpoints, extorting money from businesses, and destroying and ransacking public and private properties. Gangs targeted individuals perceived as cooperating with police or defying their authority. Some victims were executed, their bodies often doused with gasoline and burned. Others were subjected to gang-organized “trials”, arbitrarily held captive, and at times forced to pay fines to secure their release. “Gangs continued to use sexual violence to terrorize, subjugate, and punish the population,” the report adds, detailing extremely serious abuses. During the period covered by the UN, at least 1,571 women and girls were victims of sexual violence, mostly gang rape. Others, including children, were coerced into so-called “sentimental relationships” with gangs members and subjected to prolonged sexual exploitation and abuse.
The report also documents instances of unnecessary or disproportionate use of force by police, reporting 247 cases against alleged gang members or individuals believed to be gang supporters. Since March 2025, a private military company, reportedly hired by the Haitian government, has taken part in security operations, including using drone strikes. The report also details violence perpetrated by self-defence groups and mobs engaging in so-called “popular justice”. Armed with stones, machetes, and, increasingly, high-calibre firearms, these groups have lynched individuals suspected of gang affiliation, as well as others deemed to have committed crimes.
In this context of destruction and violence affecting Haitian territory, the small Catholic community of Pourcine Pic-Makaya, 300 km from Jéremié, responds with a spirit of fraternal unity, remaining confident and on the path toward Easter. “People of all ages love to participate actively, as protagonists in various initiatives, whether religious, cultural, in schools, or on the occasion of civil holidays… if encouraged, they know how to organize themselves into groups that know how to give importance to these activities, which are important for increasing social cohesion and building the local community,” writes Father Massimo Miraglio, a Camillian missionary and parish priest of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Pourcine, to Fides. “These days,” he continues, “with the help of an NGO, we are rehabilitating some family banana and plantain plantations destroyed by Hurricane Melissa . One hundred and fifty families from different areas of Pourcine-Pic Makaya will join forces to revitalize local production. In small groups, they will take turns working in the various plantations and at the end of the day of community work, they will receive a much-appreciated meal,” emphasizes Father Massimo. “Once the work in the banana groves is finished, supported and assisted by four young agronomists, each family will take care of their own plantation, occasionally asking for help to speed up the work with a small fund available. Revitalizing banana and plantain production is important to feed the population in the coming months… Working together strengthens community life!”
Between the second-quarter exams at the parish nursery and primary schools, which will keep the children busy, the community is preparing for Holy Week and continuing with preparations for the National Flag Day, celebrated on May 18.
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