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El Salvador gang violence pushes murder rate to postwar record El Salvador gang violence pushes murder rate to postwar record
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El Salvador saw the highest number of murders last month since its bloody 12-year civil war ended in 1992 as violence between street gangs grows ever more deadly.El Salvador saw the highest number of murders last month since its bloody 12-year civil war ended in 1992 as violence between street gangs grows ever more deadly.
The National Forensics Institute (ILM) said there were 911 homicides in August - an average of nearly 30 every day – making it the deadliest month in nearly a quarter of a century. The National Forensics Institute (ILM) said there were 911 homicides in August – an average of nearly 30 every day – making it the deadliest month in nearly a quarter of a century.
On Aug. 23 alone there were 52 murders, making it the bloodiest day of the year. On 23 August alone there were 52 murders, making it the bloodiest day of the year.
From January to August, El Salvador recorded 4,246 homicides, an average of 17.5 a day, and up 67% on the same eight-month period in 2014. The country has a population of approximately 6.4 million.From January to August, El Salvador recorded 4,246 homicides, an average of 17.5 a day, and up 67% on the same eight-month period in 2014. The country has a population of approximately 6.4 million.
Related: One murder every hour: how El Salvador became the homicide capital of the worldRelated: One murder every hour: how El Salvador became the homicide capital of the world
Violence has risen steadily in El Salvador since a 2012 truce between the country’s two main gangs, the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and its rival Barrio 18, began to fall apart last year. The truce had helped reduce the Central American country’s murder rate in mid-2013 to around five per day, a 10-year low. Violence has risen steadily in El Salvador since a 2012 truce between the country’s two main gangs, the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and its rival Barrio 18, began to fall apart last year. The truce had helped reduce the Central American country’s murder rate in mid-2013 to around five a day, a 10-year low.
The country’s police estimate that 80% of the homicides are related to purges and score-settling between the country’s gangs.The country’s police estimate that 80% of the homicides are related to purges and score-settling between the country’s gangs.
El Salvador is one of the most violent countries in the world, according to United Nations statistics, with a 2012 murder rate of 41.2 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants.El Salvador is one of the most violent countries in the world, according to United Nations statistics, with a 2012 murder rate of 41.2 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants.
On current trends, the homicide rate will pass 90 per 100,000 people in 2015, overtaking that of Honduras as the highest in the world (not including battlegrounds like Syria). This would make El Salvador almost 20 times deadlier than the US and 90 times deadlier than the UK.On current trends, the homicide rate will pass 90 per 100,000 people in 2015, overtaking that of Honduras as the highest in the world (not including battlegrounds like Syria). This would make El Salvador almost 20 times deadlier than the US and 90 times deadlier than the UK.