Monday, April 14, in an alarming report submitted to the Security Council, Antonio Guterres the Secretary General of the United Nations underlines the insecurity in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince.

"Armed gangs continue to compete for control of territory in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince and are now spreading to neighborhoods hitherto spared [...] clashes are more violent and more frequent" between gangs and with the police [...]"

Highlighting the rapid increase in murders and kidnappings in the country.

"Between January 1 and March 31, the number of reported homicides increased in the country by 21% compared to the previous quarter (815 killed against 673) and the number of kidnappings by 63% (637 against 391)."

"The Haitian people remain in the grip of one of the worst human rights crises in decades and a major humanitarian emergency [...] the situation of people living in areas controlled by armed gangs remains absolutely appalling [...] in areas recently targeted by the gangs, the situation is deteriorating drastically," the report continued.

"[...] With the high number of fatalities and increasing areas under the control of armed gangs, insecurity in the capital has reached levels comparable to countries in armed conflict [...]"

Antonio Guterres reiterated in his report to the Security Council that the deployment of an international force is "crucial".

The Security Council is due to discuss the report on Wednesday, April 26, 2023.

S/ HaitiLibre