UN Security Council Briefing Highlights Escalating Crisis in Haiti Amid Calls for Greater International Support

NEW YORK — The United Nations Security Council convened on October 22 to address the deteriorating situation in Haiti, with a particular focus on the escalating violence, the strain on humanitarian efforts, and the challenges facing the country’s political transition. Senior officials, including María Isabel Salvador, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti, and U.S. Ambassador Dorothy Shea, underscored the growing urgency for international intervention, as gang violence continues to ravage the country and impede any political progress.

María Isabel Salvador delivered a grim update, revealing that Haiti’s situation has worsened significantly, with over 700,000 internally displaced persons, marking a staggering 22 percent increase in the past three months. “The political process, despite initial advances, which I reported in July, is now facing significant challenges, turning hope into deep concern,” she said. 

Salvador highlighted the fragile security situation, with violence spreading beyond Port-au-Prince into rural areas, overwhelming the Haitian National Police (HNP) and national security apparatus. “Haitians continue to suffer across the country as criminal gang activities escalate and expand beyond Port-au-Prince, spreading terror and fear,” Salvador added.

Multinational Security Support Mission Struggles with Underfunding

The Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, deployed in June to assist the HNP, has made some strides in containing gang violence, but Salvador stressed that the mission remains critically under-resourced. 

“The MSS mission remains critically under-resourced, which could impact deployment and impede it from carrying out its tasks,” she warned. The limited funding and resources are already affecting the mission’s ability to support the HNP and Haiti’s armed forces, raising concerns about its long-term efficacy in restoring order.

Ambassador Dorothy Shea echoed Salvador’s concerns, emphasizing that while the MSS mission has made some progress, the gains remain precarious without adequate funding and international backing. “Now is the time for Haitian national unity in the international fight against the gangs,” Shea said, urging the global community to rally behind Haiti’s political leaders and transitional government.

Shea also called for the MSS mission to transition into a UN peacekeeping operation, a move that could stabilize funding and expand the mission’s capabilities. This transformation, she argued, would ensure that Haiti receives sustained support rather than temporary interventions, a sentiment supported by Haitian leaders, who have called for more comprehensive assistance from the international community.

Children Caught in the Crossfire of Gang Violence

Catherine Russell, the Executive Director of UNICEF, highlighted the devastating impact of the violence on women and children. “So far, this year, we have seen a staggering increase in reported incidents of sexual violence against women and children, including gender-based violence,” Russell said. 

She reported that armed groups are increasingly recruiting children into their ranks, using them as informants, cooks, and even sex slaves. Russell added that children now make up 30 to 50 percent of some armed groups’ membership. 

“The Haitian people—not Haitian gangs—will write the country’s future,”

 Ambassador Dorothy Shea at the UN briefing.

“This is a pivotal moment for the country,” Russell said, noting the importance of the MSS mission and the Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) in supporting recovery efforts.

Despite these international interventions, Haiti’s humanitarian situation continues to worsen, leaving the international community at a crossroads. As Russell put it, “The question is one of will,” signaling that the global community has the resources and tools to assist but must decide whether it will commit to a sustained effort.

Tensions Between Haiti and the Dominican Republic

Tensions between Haiti and its neighbor, the Dominican Republic, also surfaced during the meeting, particularly around the issue of mass deportations. Antonio Rodrigue, Haiti’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, expressed “deep concern” over the deportations of Haitian nationals from the Dominican Republic. While acknowledging the Dominican Republic’s right to manage its borders, Rodrigue stressed that these actions must align with international law and protect the dignity of migrants.

Roberto Álvarez Gil, the Dominican Republic’s Foreign Minister, defended the deportations.

 “The Dominican government cannot accept the reckless call to halt repatriations,” Gil said. He argued that halting deportations would be akin to encouraging irregular migration and said, “The crisis enveloping Haiti is its own responsibility, exacerbated by the lack of timely and sustained support from the international community.”

Kenya and the Call for a Holistic Solution

Erastus Ekitela Lokaale, Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, which has provided significant support to the MSS mission, added that while the mission has been critical in addressing Haiti’s immediate security concerns, it cannot be viewed as a standalone solution. 

“Haiti’s stability will only be accomplished through a multi-pronged approach that addresses the root causes of its challenges,” Lokaale said, pointing to long-standing political, economic, and social issues that must be resolved if the country is to achieve lasting peace.

The October 22 Security Council meeting reinforced the international community’s awareness of the deepening crisis in Haiti, but it also highlighted the challenges ahead. Despite some political advances, such as the formation of the TPC and the recent appointment of a new cabinet, the escalating violence threatens to derail any progress. Shea’s remarks were a reminder that while the Multinational Security Support mission has played a crucial role, the underfunding of the mission leaves Haiti vulnerable to further instability.

As Ambassador Shea put it, “We are determined to help the Haitian people write the future that they deserve,” but without broader international engagement, the future remains uncertain.

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UN Security Council Briefing Highlights Escalating Crisis in Haiti Amid Calls for Greater International Support was first posted on October 23, 2024 at 12:48 pm.