In order to stop gang violence in Haiti, UN Secretary-General Guterres calls on the international community to take action.

Antonio Guterres, secretary-general of the United Nations (UN), urged action from the international community to stop the growing gang violence in Haiti, which "compromises the security of the Caribbean."

After meeting with Prime Minister Andrew Holness of Jamaica, Guterres stated that, despite the Haitian government's request, Jamaica was the only country providing assistance to reduce gang violence there.

Asserting that due to its worsening gang violence and "paralyzed political system," Haiti urgently needs humanitarian assistance, Guterres stated, "I ask the international community to understand once again that effective solidarity with Haiti is not just a matter of generosity."

Guterres remarked, "This issue should be handled as a matter of self-interest, because the current situation in Haiti poses a threat to the security of the entire region and even beyond." in reference to the fact that the "dramatic situation" in Haiti offers a threat to more than just this nation.

In addressing the rising gang violence in Haiti, Guterres highlighted that there is no progress being made.

Violence in Haiti

Since April 2022, hundreds of people have died and more than 3,000 have been compelled to flee their homes as a result of the battle between armed factions in the nation.

The assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021, the 7.2-magnitude earthquake in August of the same year that killed more than 2,200 people and destroyed tens of thousands of homes, inflation, cholera cases, kidnappings, and increased violence all contributed to social unrest in Haiti, which has gotten much worse recently.

In a nation where inflation has reached its highest point in recent years, 40% of the population is food insecure, and ongoing gang violence has resulted in hundreds of fatalities and tens of thousands of displaced people.

According to the UN assessment, Port-au-Prince's capital city's security issues are on par with those of a war-torn nation.

In the report, it was noted that armed gang members were fighting one another to take over new territory; it was emphasized that clashes between the gangs and the police resulted in the deaths of many civilians; and it was noted that the current state of affairs in Haiti was causing one of the worst humanitarian crises in the previous ten years for the people living there.