WASHINGTON

Haiti's UN envoy on Wednesday highlighted the urgent need to combat the influx of weapons into the Caribbean nation and called for stricter measures to address the ongoing gang violence.

Speaking at a Security Council session, Antonio Rodrigue said Haiti is facing a security, humanitarian, institutional and economic crisis, which he said is paralyzing the entire country.

"The security situation is only getting worse. Armed gangs are becoming increasingly violent and are operating without any fear or restraint," he said.

Rodrigue stressed that the proliferation of weapons and ammunition is one of the main reasons behind the spiraling violence, adding that Haiti has been invaded by weapons of war.

"In spite of the embargo imposed by Security Council Resolution 2653, these weapons are coming from outside Haiti because Haiti itself doesn't manufacture any weapons at all -- assault weapons and automatic weapons which were originally designed for wars and now to be found in the hands of Haitian gangs," he said.

The Haitian envoy said the weapons embargo, travel ban and asset freeze are indispensable tools to bring about peace and security in the country but added that the effectiveness of these sanctions depends on them being strictly implemented.

Haiti has been hit by violence by gangs that control more than 80% of the capital Port-au-Prince and other areas of the nation.

About 5,000 people have been killed in Haiti this year, including more than 100 in a recent massacre in a gang-controlled community in Port-au-Prince.