PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — A troop contingent from El Salvador landed in Haiti on Tuesday, aiming to enhance a United Nations-supported mission that is primarily operated by Kenyan police, which is dedicated to combating gang violence that resulted in thousands of fatalities last year and currently exerts control over a significant part of the capital.

This deployment consists of 70 soldiers who are expected to contribute their skills in air support. Kenyan authorities have highlighted that this capability will be crucial for executing medical evacuations in the tumultuous environment.

The arrival of Salvadoran troops marks the latest addition to the international forces committed to the mission in recent times. In the previous month, further police personnel from Kenya were sent to Haiti, raising the number of Kenyan officers to over 600. They are collaborating with law enforcement, military, and other representatives from countries such as Jamaica and Guatemala.

The surge in gang violence is a growing concern across Port-au-Prince and its surroundings. Recently, in an affluent area, gang-related incidents led to the deaths of at least 40 individuals, underscoring the escalating crisis.

International warnings, including from the United States, have pointed out that the mission led by Kenya is struggling with inadequate funding and personnel. There is ongoing pressure to transition this mission into a more formal U.N. peacekeeping operation.

In the past year alone, over 5,600 fatalities have been documented in Haiti due to gang activities, with an additional 2,200 individuals suffering injuries. According to United Nations reports, such violence has resulted in more than one million people being displaced from their homes in recent years.