The Security Council called on armed groups to immediately cease any destabilizing activities and called for bringing those responsible for such heinous acts to justice.
This statement was issued following a closed-door meeting of the Security Council last week on the situation in Haiti.
Member States strongly condemned the escalation of violence, criminal activities, mass displacement of civilians and human rights violations in Haiti, which threaten peace, stability and security in Haiti and the wider region.
In Haiti, concerns have been raised about kidnapping, sexual and gender-based violence, unlawful killings, and recruitment of children by armed groups and criminal networks.
curb on illegal weapons
The Security Council has described the flow of illicit arms and ammunition into Haiti as a major cause of instability and violence, and called on Member States to enforce existing restrictions on the trade of arms.
The Council strongly condemned the attacks by armed groups on prisons and other vital infrastructure in the country, which allowed gang leaders and other prisoners to escape.
At the same time, deep concern has been expressed over threats of targeted violence against members of the Haitian government and policemen.
Member countries have expressed confidence that the Multinational Support Mission approved by the Security Council at the request of the Haitian government will be deployed as soon as possible. So far, Benin and Kenya, along with some other countries, have agreed to contribute their security personnel to this security mission.
siege of the capital
International Organization for Migration in Haiti (IOM) says the situation has worsened since violence began in February, and the capital, Port-au-Prince, is besieged by armed groups.
More than 160,000 people are currently displaced in the metropolitan area of ​​Port-au-Prince. The UN agency has expressed concern that people are badly trapped in the capital and they have no option to go anywhere else.
UN Humanitarian Office (OCHA) said in an update that the country’s main port is a huge transport of goods and products, and that 300 containers laden with life-saving aid were at risk.
According to the organization, there have been attempts to loot several containers filled with food and non-food items, in view of which steps have been taken to protect humanitarian aid materials.
Instability across the country
Gang violence broke out in several areas of the capital, Port-au-Prince, on 29 February, followed by the escape of prisoners from two prisons, and further insecurity as more than 4,500 inmates took to the streets.
Due to these circumstances, the state of emergency in the country was extended until April 3. Prime Minister Ariel Honoré is outside Haiti, in Puerto Rico.
His plane was denied permission to land at the national airport, which is under siege last week. According to news media, leaders of criminal groups have threatened civil war if he returns to the country.
The violence in Haiti has caused major disruption to economic activity. All commercial airlines have cancelled flights to Port-au-Prince and neighbouring Dominican Republic has closed its airspace to flights to or from Haiti.
Fires in the streets of Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince. (File photo)
failing health system
Current events in Haiti are causing the health system to collapse. Armed groups have attacked hospitals and mental health services are lacking.
Some hospitals are controlled by criminal gangs and staff and patients have been evacuated to safer locations. Medical workers have warned that their ability to run health care services has been severely impacted.
Haiti currently has 362,000 displaced people within its borders, more than half of whom are children. Many children have experienced displacement multiple times, representing a 15 percent increase since the beginning of the year.
The situation, already dire due to violence by criminal groups, is made fragile by the shortage of humanitarian aid supplies and resources, and access to water and basic services is a major challenge for the newly displaced people.
Despite the chaotic situation in the country, the UN Migration Agency and other partner organizations continue to deliver humanitarian assistance to populations in need.
need of support
United Nations Secretary General UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that UN agencies are engaged in providing relief to those in need, but providing them safe passage and supplying medical supplies to hospitals is very important.
The UN spokesperson said that this is an opportunity for us to come together and support the people of Haiti to overcome the current serious crisis through a Haitian-led solution.
UN Secretary General The UN has also called on governments and all stakeholders to agree on immediate measures to arrest the worsening situation in the country and pave the way for holding elections through the political process.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for support for the humanitarian aid fund for Haiti. A request for $674 million has been made, but only 2.6 percent has been arranged so far.