The security situation in Haiti has significantly deteriorated despite the efforts of United Nations-approved Kenyan-led forces sent to assist the Haitian police in response to escalating gang violence. María Isabel Salvador, special representative of the secretary-general and head of the U.N. Integrated Office in Haiti, addressed the Security Council, stating that over 700,000 Haitians are internally displaced due to the violence. Despite increased efforts to restore peace in the nation, the Multinational Security Support Mission is still under-resourced, with only 430 personnel deployed out of the planned 3,000.
Gang violence, which was previously concentrated in Haiti’s capital city, has now spread beyond Port-au-Prince under an alliance of well-armed gangs known as Viv Ansanm. The violence includes murders, kidnappings, and sexual violence of unprecedented brutality, with attacks reported across the country. In a horrific incident on October 3, gangs attacked the town of Port Sondé, killing 115 people, including a young mother, her newborn baby, a midwife, and several women and infants. The town was targeted after it was believed to have collaborated with a defense group called “The Coalition” against the gangs.
The Support Mission in Haiti remains severely under-resourced, impacting its ability to work alongside the Haitian National Police and potentially affecting future deployments. Funding for the mission has been insufficient, and there are ongoing concerns about arms smuggling schemes, often facilitated through Florida, that support violent gang activities. Political instability and corruption are also major issues in Haiti, as the new government, formed in June, is facing public trust issues due to divisions between the prime minister and presidential council.
In addition to the security challenges, Haiti is also grappling with a humanitarian crisis, with an estimated 5 million people going hungry and thousands facing famine. The international community is called upon to increase support for the Haitian security apparatus and the Support Mission to address the escalating violence and instability in the country. Despite efforts to restore calm, the security situation in Haiti continues to worsen, with a significant increase in the number of internally displaced people in recent months. The Haitian government, along with international partners, faces the daunting task of addressing the root causes of the violence and instability in order to bring peace and security to the nation.
