United Nations Security General Antonio Guterres urged the international community to create a multinational force to address the security crisis in Haiti brought on by rising gang violence.
In his remarks on Tuesday, Guterres said that the force should be composed of police special forces and military support units. He argued that the force would need access to sophisticated weapons to restore security to the impoverished Caribbean country.
Addressing Haiti's Gang Violence
The UN chief said in a 12-page letter to the agency's Security Council that to address the security situation in Haiti; there would need to be a range of coercive law enforcement measures to address the current issue in the Caribbean nation, including active use of force in specific police operations against heavily armed gangs.
Guterres' letter was made in response to a resolution by the Security Council adopted on July 14 asking the UN chief to provide a "full range of options" within 30 days to address Haiti's armed gangs issue, including using a non-UN multinational force, as per Independent.
The UN secretary general also expressed his gratitude for Kenya's offer to lead the international force and the renewed pledges of support issued by the Bahamas and Jamaica. Additionally, Antigua and Barbuda recently announced they were considering contributing to the multinational force.
He also urged more countries, especially those from the Americas, to contribute to the effort and "build on this new momentum." The situation comes as gangs have overpowered Haiti's police, and experts estimated that the violent groups now have control over 80% of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
Human Rights Watch also said there are only about 10,000 police officers in the country, home to more than 11 million people. The group noted that 30 law enforcement personnel were killed from January to June.
Guterres' suggestion comes after Haiti asked for international assistance to fight against violent gangs in the region last year. In October, the UN chief suggested that countries should send a "rapid action force" to support the Caribbean nation's police force, according to Reuters.
Rapidly Deteriorating Situation
On Tuesday, the UN chief's latest report was circulated to the 15-member council, outlining two potential UN options. The first is logistical support to the multinational force sent to Haiti and its police force. The second is strengthening a UN political mission already in the Caribbean nation.
In his report, Guterres wrote that Haiti's current context is not conducive to peacekeeping, adding that law and order must be restored to the region and that gangs should be disarmed. The UN chief also detailed the need to establish strategic installations, the security of roadways, and the re-establishment of state presence to provide basic services to the people.
In July, the UN chief briefly visited Haiti, and his recent report highlights the extreme violence that armed gangs in the region have inflicted. Guterres noted that there were reports of indiscriminate shooting of people who were in public spaces or residences and reports of people being burned alive in public vehicles, said the Voice of America News.
