United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly condemned a brutal gang attack in Haiti’s Cabaret commune that left at least 40 people dead, including women, children, and the elderly.
The assault occurred overnight on September 11 and is the latest in a series of violent incidents that have plagued the country since last year.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, Guterres expressed “heartfelt condolences” to the victims’ families and urged Haitian authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.
“The Secretary-General is alarmed by the levels of violence rocking Haiti,” Dujarric said.
“The Secretary-General is alarmed by the levels of violence rocking Haiti and urges the Haitian authorities to ensure that perpetrators of these and all other human rights abuses and violations are brought to justice. The Secretary-General calls on Member States to expedite efforts towards strengthening the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission with required logistics, personnel and funding to effectively assist the Haitian National Police in addressing gang violence in Haiti in full respect of international human rights law.”
Just two weeks ago, Guterres addressed the UN Security Council, describing Haiti as a nation in crisis. “State authority is crumbling,” he warned, as armed groups tighten their grip on Port-au-Prince and surrounding regions, forcing families to flee and disrupting daily life.
The humanitarian situation in Haiti remains dire. Six million people are in need of aid, with 1.3 million displaced. Yet less than 10 percent of the UN’s $908 million appeal has been funded. Guterres described the response as “shamefully overlooked and woefully underfunded,” cautioning that 1.7 million people may receive no assistance at all.
The Secretary-General reiterated the need for international support, urging Member States to strengthen the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission with personnel, logistics, and funding to help the Haitian National Police address gang violence while fully respecting international human rights law.
