Haiti urges Gang Suppression Force deployment as killings surge

Haiti has called for the full deployment of the United Nations Security Council-backed Gang Suppression Force, GSF, to help Haitian authorities combat armed gangs and restore public safety.

Pierre Ericq Pierre, Haiti’s Permanent Representative to the UN, made the call at an emergency Security Council meeting convened to discuss the latest developments in the Caribbean nation.

Pierre condemned the recent massacre and hostage-taking in Kenscoff, describing the incidents as evidence of armed gangs’ “new capacity for violence and terror.” The diplomat, however, assured that Haiti’s security forces remained fully mobilised and on maximum alert to protect civilians, recover gang-held territory and restore state authority.

Pierre appealed to the international community to expedite the deployment of the multinational anti-gang force to its planned strength of 5,500 personnel.

He commended commitments from Chad, Mongolia and Côte d’Ivoire to join the mission and confirmed that discussions with Jamaica, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh were ongoing.

Pierre also requested support for Haiti’s training of new military personnel, as well as stronger enforcement of the Security Council’s arms embargo to curb the flow of weapons and ammunition.

This week, gangs killed at least 47 people, injured 22 others and kidnapped more than 52 people in Kenscoff, near Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital.

The latest report by the UN Integrated Office in Haiti said that between April 1 and June 30, 1,408 people were killed and 656 injured in gang attacks, while 326 people were subjected to sexual violence.