Foreign Ministers from across the Americas convened on the margins of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday to call for increased support for Haiti, a country facing a worsening multidimensional crisis affecting political stability, security, human rights, and humanitarian conditions.
The Caribbean nation continues to grapple with armed gangs controlling large portions of its territory, leaving more than six million people in urgent need of assistance and 1.4 million displaced, mostly women and children. Violence, including killings, abductions, and cases of sexual and gender-based assault, has surged. At the meeting, Ambassador Bob Rae of Canada, chair of the UN Economic and Social Council’s (ECOSOC) Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti, reported that eight children were killed in a drone strike in the Cité Soleil neighbourhood of Port-au-Prince, underscoring the dire situation.
The discussions coincided with the UN Security Council’s review of a proposal by the Secretary-General to establish a new UN Support Office in Haiti, which would provide logistical and operational support for the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission currently assisting Haitian national police. Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand pledged an additional $40 million to the MSS and its successor mission, alongside $20 million to improve maritime security in the Caribbean, urging other partners to increase their support.
Haitian Foreign Minister Jean-Victor Harvel Jean-Baptiste emphasized the urgent need to restore social peace and enable safe elections, while also supporting development, economic, and social programs to address gang violence. “Despite these security challenges, there has been progress… Now we need more support in order to conclude this effort,” he said.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed highlighted that while security interventions are vital, stability will only be achieved through a political process, credible elections, and economic recovery. “Bold financing and strategic investments must reach the Haitian people where they matter most,” she said.
Newly appointed UN Special Representative for Haiti, Carlos Massieu Ruiz, urged urgent action from the Security Council, calling on countries to reaffirm their commitment to Haiti. “The path forward demands political will, vision, but mostly resolve,” he said. “Together, we can help Haiti… to turn the tide and embark on a trajectory of peace, recovery, and inclusive development.”
