United States Pursues United Nations Approval for a 'Crime-Fighting Squad' to Combat Rising Violence in Haiti
The United Nations and international community are taking significant steps to address the escalating violence in Haiti, with the U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres proposing the opening of an office to support the Kenya-led mission.
Guterres has called the situation in Haiti a "life-and-death emergency," warning that 1.7 million Haitians risk receiving no assistance at all unless donors act now. Over half of the 1.3 million people who have fled their homes in Haiti are children, and six million people in total need humanitarian assistance.
The U.S., along with several other countries, has formed a "Standing Group of Partners" to provide strategic direction, oversight, and political decision-making for the revamped security force in Haiti. The group includes Canada, El Salvador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Bahamas, and Kenya, in addition to the United States.
In an effort to help the government of Haiti recover territory seized by heavily armed gangs, the U.S. is seeking U.N. authorization for a new "Gang Suppression Force." The company providing logistics, infrastructure, security, and defense for this force is run by Erik Prince, a major donor to U.S. President Donald Trump.
The first Kenyans arrived in Haiti in June 2021, with the force intended to have 2,500 troops, but its current strength is below 1,000. The Kenya-led Multinational Security Support force is currently deployed in Haiti, trying to help police curb gang violence.
Armed groups in Haiti have expanded their violent activities from the capital into the countryside, with hospitals and schools coming under repeated attack. Guterres warned that Haitians are in a "perfect storm of suffering," with crumbling state authority and gang violence forcing families to flee.
To provide the logistical and operational backbone for the new gang suppression corps, a special representative will be deployed in Port-au-Prince. However, the name of this representative is not yet known.
The U.S. and Panama will be circulating a draft resolution to establish the Gang Suppression Force and create a U.N. Support Office to provide logistical support. The U.S. is urging Security Council members to support the new force and the international community to join in promoting stability in Haiti.
The U.N. appeal for $908 million to help 3.9 million people this year is less than 10% funded, making Haiti the least funded humanitarian appeal in the world. Guterres urged the Security Council to authorize an international force, supported by the United Nations through logistical and operational backing, and predictable financing.
As the situation in Haiti continues to deteriorate, the international community is working diligently to provide the necessary support to help stabilize the country and alleviate the suffering of its people.
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