United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited Haiti amid escalating gang violence, which has left over 2,300 people dead and 1.5 million displaced this year alone. Guterres toured Port-au-Prince, observing the devastation in areas heavily controlled by gangs, including the notorious Viv Ansam, which dominates 70% of the city. During his visit, he met locals living in makeshift shelters, expressing their struggles and urgent need for safety and privacy.
He emphasized the alarming state of Haiti’s displacement crisis, with over 300,000 people affected. Guterres also discussed Haiti’s security with Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils Aimé, highlighting the urgent need for elections in a country lacking stable leadership since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021.
A new UN-supported gang suppression unit is set to start operations, although it’s currently underfunded and staffed. Human Rights Watch called for targeted actions addressing violence and human rights abuses. Guterres expressed shock at the dire circumstances he witnessed, stressing that the plight of women and children is particularly severe.
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