UN Chief Warns Gangs Could Overrun Haiti Without More Support

In a report released ahead of a Security Council meeting on Wednesday, Guterres stressed that "time is of the essence" as the situation in the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation deteriorates rapidly. He emphasized that any further delays in bolstering the multinational force fighting gang violence, or in providing additional resources to the Haitian National Police, could trigger the "catastrophic collapse" of the country's security infrastructure. This, he warned, would allow gangs to seize control of the capital and other key areas, rendering both local and international aid efforts in the country unsustainable.

"We must urgently do everything in our power to prevent such an outcome," Guterres told the Security Council, underscoring the dire need for immediate action.

Kenya is leading the multinational police force deployed to Haiti, with 217 additional officers arriving over the weekend, raising the total number of personnel to more than 600. However, this remains far below the 1,000 officers promised by Kenya's president and well short of the 2,500 officers originally envisioned for the force. While Guatemala and El Salvador have also sent troops, the multinational force is still struggling to meet the required strength.

The gang violence in Haiti has escalated dramatically since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. Last year, over 5,600 people were killed across the country, a rise of more than 20% compared to 2023, according to the United Nations.

Maria Isabel Salvador, the U.N. special envoy to Haiti, briefed the Security Council on the growing humanitarian crisis, revealing that more than 1 million people have been displaced by gang violence, many of whom are living in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. Nearly 2 million people are facing emergency food insecurity, with 6,000 at risk of starvation.

Haiti's leaders have called for a U.N. peacekeeping force to replace the current multinational deployment, a request supported by the United States, the Organization of American States, and other nations. However, the multinational force is funded through a trust fund that has received only $101.1 million in pledges, while a U.N. force would be supported by the U.N.'s peacekeeping budget.

Guterres is currently considering options for the U.N.'s future involvement in Haiti, acknowledging that the lack of progress on political reforms and the slow pace of the transition process since Moïse's assassination have allowed gang violence to reach alarming levels.

Jean-Victor Harvel Jean Baptiste, Haiti's foreign minister, echoed the U.N. chief's concerns, describing the violence as an "existential threat" to the nation's survival. He called the ongoing massacres and kidnappings a direct challenge to the safety and security of the Haitian people.

Guterres condemned the brutality of the gangs, including reports of widespread sexual violence and the recruitment of child soldiers, and expressed horror at the scale of the atrocities. He also noted that the slow progress on political reforms, particularly the transition toward democratic institutions, has contributed to the lawlessness that now grips the country.

"Simply put, the goal of restoring democratic institutions by February 2026 is in jeopardy," Guterres concluded, urging the international community to act swiftly and decisively to prevent further violence and instability.