Human Rights Watch Documents Devastating Toll of Police Drone Attacks in Haiti
Human Rights Watch has released a damning report detailing how drones operated by Haitian security forces and private contractors have killed at least 1,243 people and injured 738 others in a series of attacks. The nonprofit organization presented these findings on Tuesday, highlighting a significant escalation in the use of armed quadcopter drones equipped with explosives.
Civilian Casualties and Child Deaths Revealed
Among those killed, 17 were children and 43 were adults not believed to be members of any criminal group. Of the injured, at least 49 were believed to be civilians, according to the rights group. The killings occurred between March 1, 2025, and January 21, 2026, with the most lethal single drone operation claiming 57 lives.
"Haitian authorities should urgently rein in the security forces and private contractors working for them before more children die," stated Juanita Goebertus, Americas director at Human Rights Watch. A spokesperson for Haiti's National Police did not respond to requests for comment regarding these allegations.
Surge in Drone Attacks in Gang-Controlled Capital
The report notes that armed drone attacks in Port-au-Prince, which is 90% controlled by gangs, have "significantly increased" in recent months. Researchers documented 57 attacks between November and late January, nearly double the 29 attacks reported from August through October last year.
Human Rights Watch analyzed seven videos uploaded to social media or shared directly with the organization, showing armed quadcopter drones in action. Researchers geolocated four of these videos to Port-au-Prince. "The videos show the repeated use of drones equipped with explosives to attack vehicles and people, some of them armed, but none who appear to be engaged in violent acts or pose any imminent threat to life," the group emphasized.
Specific Incidents Highlight Civilian Suffering
One particularly tragic attack occurred on September 20, 2025, in the Simon Pele neighborhood, an extremely impoverished community controlled by a gang of the same name. The drone attack killed nine people, including three children, and injured at least eight others as the leader of the Simon Pele gang prepared to distribute gifts to children in the area.
Human Rights Watch quoted an unnamed resident recalling how the explosion ripped both feet off a baby. Among those killed was a 6-year-old girl, whose unidentified mother stated, "In the spaces where the gangs are, there are innocent people, people who raise their children, who follow normal paths."
The families of victims reported that criminal groups organized and controlled access to funerals. "Some residents said that only people who accepted money or support from the criminal group had been allowed to attend the funeral," noted the rights group in its report.
On January 1 of this year, an unidentified woman described seeing a drone fall and explode onto a truck transporting her cousin, killing her instantly.
International Law Violations and Lack of Accountability
"Many of these attacks appear to be attempts to target and kill people in circumstances that amount to unlawful, extrajudicial killings," Human Rights Watch declared. The organization called for transparency and accountability, urging authorities to conduct prompt, thorough, and independent investigations to disclose victim identities and provide adequate reparations where violations have occurred.
Volker Turk, the U.N. human rights chief, has previously stated that the use of lethal force against gangs in Haiti was unnecessary, disproportionate, and likely violated international law.
Task Force Operations and Private Contractors
Last year, Haiti's government created a new task force operating outside the oversight of Haiti's National Police, employing explosive drones. This task force comprises certain police units and private contractors. In mid-2025, Vectus Global, the security firm of former U.S. Navy Seal Erik Prince, expected to deploy nearly 200 personnel from various countries to Haiti as part of a one-year deal to quell gang violence.
Haitian police are also working alongside a U.N.-backed mission led by Kenyan police, which remains underfunded and understaffed. This mission is expected to transform into a so-called gang suppression force in upcoming months. Human Rights Watch noted it did not find widespread drone use among criminal groups themselves, indicating the attacks are primarily state-sanctioned or contractor-led operations.
