UN Head Proposes Support for Haiti’s Gang Crisis

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has made a proposal to establish a U.N. office aimed at supporting a Kenyan-led mission in Haiti that is combating widespread gang activity. According to correspondence seen on Wednesday, this proposed office would supply drones, fuel, transportation, and other forms of non-lethal assistance.
The letter detailing this proposal was sent to the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday evening. It provides the first concrete details of a plan that Guterres had hinted at during a recent summit with Caribbean leaders. Initially, Guterres indicated his intention to have the U.N. cover the structural and logistical expenses of the mission but did not elaborate further at the time.
In the letter, Guterres outlined the critical condition in Haiti, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. “We must act quickly,” he wrote, expressing his belief that a phased approach by the U.N. could significantly reduce the surge in gang violence that has been escalating alarmingly.
Guterres described his proposal as a “realistic option,” clarifying that transitioning to a traditional U.N. peacekeeping operation in Haiti is currently not feasible.
This initiative has emerged in the wake of recent gang expansions in Port-au-Prince, where gangs now control 85% of the capital. Their aggression has forced over 6,000 individuals into homelessness in just the past month, and the violence has been dire, with entire families murdered in their homes, while others, including children and babies, were killed as they attempted to flee.
The suggested U.N. office would aim to fortify Haiti’s National Police by gathering and disseminating sensitive operational information, establishing a joint operations center, and providing Geographic Information System (GIS) support alongside surveillance using drones.
Simultaneously, BINUH, the most recent U.N. political mission in Haiti, could shift its focus to initiatives that assist children and women in escaping gang involvement and bolster legal proceedings against high-risk individuals.
The Security Council recently extended the Kenya-led U.N.-backed mission in Haiti through October, though concerns have been raised by the U.S. and other countries regarding its insufficient staffing and funding.
Guterres pointed out that the mission, though it has reached 1,000 personnel, primarily Kenyan police, still falls short at 40% of its targeted 2,500 members.
Additionally, a U.N. trust fund meant to support the mission currently holds only $110.8 million, a sum Guterres deemed insufficient.
Many of the mission’s armored vehicles are unsuitable for Port-au-Prince’s urban setting, with a significant portion rendered useless due to a shortage of spare parts.
Last year saw over 5,600 killings in Haiti, a stark increase from the previous year, while gang violence has rendered over a million people homeless in recent years.