UN Secretary-General António Guterres has unveiled an urgent strategy to bolster Haiti’s fight against gangs controlling 85% of Port-au-Prince. In a letter obtained by AP, he proposed establishing a UN office providing drones, transportation, and intelligence support to Kenya’s under-resourced security mission.
The plan aims to reverse Haiti’s spiraling violence, which displaced 6,000 people in May alone.
We must act quickly,Guterres warned, stressing gangs now attack families in their homes and children fleeing violence. His proposal avoids transitioning to full UN peacekeeping, focusing instead on three priorities:
- Drone surveillance for gang strongholds
- Secure data-sharing systems
- Logistical support for Haiti’s National Police
The Kenyan-led mission faces critical shortages: only 40% of its 2,500 personnel target has deployed, and armored vehicles fail in urban combat. A UN trust fund holds just $110 million – far below needs. Meanwhile, gang attacks destroyed neighborhoods daily, leaving 1 million Haitians homeless since 2021.
Guterres emphasized the UN’s new Office for Integrated Support could enable arrests of high-risk gang leaders while helping women and children exit armed groups. However, experts warn stalled funding and equipment gaps threaten progress. With homicides soaring to 5,600 in 2023, Haiti’s crisis tests international resolve.