UN Secretary-General António Guterres to visit Haiti amid worsening security crisis
Key Points(5)
- The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will travel to Haiti next Tuesday for a solidarity visit, UN Deputy Spokesman, Farhan Haq, announced Monday.
- Heavily armed gangs control up to 85 per cent of the capital, Port-au-Prince, severely restricting access to basic necessities and committing acts of extreme violence, including a recent surge in gender-based violence and sexual assault.
- This force aims to neutralise gangs and secure critical infrastructure like schools, hospitals, and ports.
- Over 1.45 million people are internally displaced across the country, with 6.4 million Haitians requiring urgent humanitarian assistance.
- Haq said that the secretary-general will travel to Haiti via the Dominican Republic, and while in Santo Domingo, he is expected to meet with national authorities before returning to New York on June 17.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is scheduled to travel to Haiti next Tuesday on a solidarity visit aimed at assessing the country’s deepening security and humanitarian crisis, according to the UN.
UN Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq said Guterres will meet with men, women and children affected by ongoing violence and will “see firsthand the humanitarian and security challenges facing the country,” as well as efforts by Haitian authorities and the international community to restore stability.
The visit comes as Haiti continues to grapple with a severe multidimensional crisis marked by widespread gang violence, displacement, and deteriorating access to essential services.
According to UN assessments, armed gangs currently control up to 85 per cent of the capital, Port-au-Prince, severely limiting access to food, healthcare, and other basic necessities. The violence has also been linked to a sharp rise in gender-based violence and sexual assaults.
More than 1.45 million people are internally displaced, while an estimated 6.4 million Haitians require urgent humanitarian assistance.
During the visit, Guterres is expected to review UN support for Haiti, including logistical and operational assistance linked to a newly expanded international security framework.
The UN Security Council has authorised the transition of the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission into a larger “Gang Suppression Force” of up to 5,500 personnel under Security Council Resolution 2793. The mission is intended to help neutralise armed groups and secure critical infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, and ports.
While in the region, Guterres is also expected to meet Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé as the country prepares for elections widely anticipated before the end of the year.
He will travel to Haiti via the Dominican Republic, where he is also expected to hold meetings with national authorities in Santo Domingo before returning to New York on June 17.
The visit underscores growing international concern over Haiti’s instability and the urgency of coordinated efforts to address both security breakdown and humanitarian needs.
