The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has reported that at least 3,661 people, including 100 children, have been killed in Haiti in the first half of this year due to gang violence. The country has been engulfed in senseless criminality and unrest for years, with armed groups linked to political and business leaders vying for control of territory. The situation escalated at the end of February when gangs launched attacks on prisons and state institutions in the capital, Port-au-Prince. The report documented serious human rights violations and abuses, including the use of sexual violence by gangs to instill fear and control over populations.
Arms trafficking, primarily from the United States, as well as the Dominican Republic and Jamaica, has been identified as a major factor fueling violence in Haiti. The poorly monitored airspaces, coastlines, and porous borders have allowed gangs to access high-caliber weapons, drones, boats, and ammunition. The UN rights chief Volker Turk called for a global arms embargo, travel ban, and asset freeze program imposed by the UN Security Council to address this issue. The surge in violence this year led to the deployment of a UN-backed multinational force, the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS), to assist in restoring peace and security in Haiti.
Haiti is seeking international support to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis and violence within the country. The resignation of the unelected prime minister, the creation of a transitional presidential council, and the deployment of the MSS have been attempts to address the escalating situation. The MSS, comprised of troops from various countries, faces challenges in fully deploying its forces, with only a fraction of the troops pledged having been sent. The UN Security Council is set to vote on whether to renew the MSS’s mandate as it approaches its one-year expiration.
The interim prime minister of Haiti, Garry Conille, has called for international assistance at the UN General Assembly in New York, emphasizing the need for support in combating the criminal gangs wreaking havoc on the lives of the Haitian people. The number of people internally displaced by the violence has nearly doubled in the past six months, with more than 700,000 people displaced and 1.6 million facing severe food insecurity. Haiti has requested that the UN consider turning the MSS into a formal peacekeeping mission to ensure that stable funding and resources are available to counter the criminal groups effectively and sustainably.
It is imperative that the international community takes action to address the root causes of violence in Haiti, including arms trafficking and gang warfare. Implementing measures such as a global arms embargo and providing support for peacekeeping efforts are crucial steps in restoring stability and security in the country. The UN, along with member states, must work together to ensure that the people of Haiti are protected from the senseless violence and humanitarian crisis that have plagued the nation for far too long.
