More than 1,000 people were killed in Haiti between July and September as armed gangs continued to challenge state authority, according to the United Nations, which is calling for sustained international support to strengthen security operations and advance the country’s political transition.
CNW reports that Carlos Ruiz Massieu, the UN secretary-general’s special representative for Haiti, presented the figures to the Security Council on Monday, October 19, saying the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) had also documented more than 100 kidnapping victims during the three-month period.
He warned that sexual violence remained widespread and self-defence groups continued to expand as gangs adapted their tactics in response to intensified security operations.
He condemned the violence and urged Haitian authorities to strengthen national security institutions and take measures to protect communities.
The briefing came as the International Gang Suppression Force (GSF) expanded its presence in metropolitan Port-au-Prince and the Artibonite Department, supported by additional troop deployments.
Ruiz Massieu welcomed the expansion but said the force’s deployment remained critical to addressing the security crisis. He also acknowledged the Haitian government’s decision to increase funding for national security institutions, including the Haitian National Police and the Armed Forces of Haiti.
The latest security concerns coincide with an attack on Salvadoran personnel serving with the GSF. Four Salvadoran aviation technicians went missing after their armoured vehicle was attacked with explosives and set on fire in Croix-des-Bouquets, near Port-au-Prince, on Sunday, October 18.
The technicians escaped the burning vehicle, but their whereabouts remained unknown as efforts to reach the area were hampered by intense fighting.The incident has highlighted the dangers facing international personnel operating in gang-affected areas.
Guatemala also announced the deployment of a new contingent of military police to support the GSF. The move forms part of international efforts to reinforce security operations in Haiti.
Despite the security challenges, preparations for elections have continued. Ruiz Massieu told the Security Council that more than 35 political parties and groupings and more than 3,500 candidates had registered, marking significant progress after more than a decade without elections.
