The United Nations says more than 3,600 people have been killed this year in the “senseless” gang violence ravaging Haiti.

Haiti was already reeling from years of unrest as powerful armed groups vied for influence and control of territory.

The situation worsened dramatically at the end of February, when the gangs launched attacks on prisons and other state institutions across the capital, Port-au-Prince.

According to Al Jazeera, the UN report documented “extremely serious patterns of human rights violations and abuses taking place” in Port-au-Prince and the Artibonite Department north of the capital.

There have also been warnings that gangs are continuing to use sexual violence to punish and spread fear, and are also recruiting large numbers of children into their ranks.

The UN Human Rights Council is now urging Haitian authorities and the international community to do more to protect people in that country.