'Haiti is at a dire crossroads,' warns UN official, calling for urgent action

HAMILTON, Canada

Haiti is mired in an unprecedented crisis as gang violence escalates, threatening state authority, a UN official said Wednesday.

"Haiti is at a dire crossroads. Extreme levels of gang violence continue to erode state authority and pose an alarming threat to the people of Haiti and to international peace and security in the region, with no improvement in sight," Miroslav Jenca, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas, said at a UN Security Council meeting.

He said the current situation in Haiti "is not just another wave of insecurity; it is a dramatic escalation that shows no signs of abating."

Noting that the instability has reached new heights, Jenca said that gangs now control an estimated 85% of the capital, Port-au-Prince.

He said armed groups have encircled the city, "attacking government buildings and infrastructure while using extreme violence, including sexual violence, as a weapon of subjugation."

Highlighting the severe humanitarian toll, he said that more than 20,000 people have fled their homes in just four days this month, adding to the nearly 700,000 displaced by violence earlier this year.

Jenca also criticized the insufficient funding for the $674 million UN Humanitarian Response Plan, which is only 43% financed.

He also noted the efforts of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission led by Kenya and said just 400 personnel have been deployed out of a planned 2,500.

Without additional international support, Jenca warned that Haiti risks a "complete breakdown of state authority."

"Such an outcome would be inexcusable for the people of Haiti, who have endured far too much already," he added, urging the global community to step up security assistance and crack down on the illicit flow of drugs, weapons and ammunition fueling the gang violence.

Haiti’s escalating crisis

Haiti, with a population of over 11 million, faces severe challenges, including political instability, economic turmoil and a worsening security crisis.

According to the UN Integrated Office in Haiti, armed gang violence has claimed 3,900 lives since the beginning of the year.

The surge in violence has also led to significant political changes. Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigned in April this year, prompting the establishment of a transitional council.

Garry Conille was appointed prime minister on May 28 but was replaced on Nov. 11 by businessman Alix Didier Fils-Aimé following a council decision.