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During an official visit to Port-au-Prince, the United Nations Secretary-General urged international partners to step up their support in the face of a security and humanitarian crisis that he called dramatic.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres made an urgent call to the international community to step up support for Haiti, saying that “the world has no right to look away” in the face of the worsening situation in the country.
At a press conference in Port-au-Prince before his departure, the UN chief gave a concerning overview of the multidimensional crisis that continues to affect Haiti.
According to him, insecurity remains the main destabilizing factor and keeps causing major humanitarian consequences for the population.
António Guterres reminded that armed groups are still active in several regions of the country, leading to massive population displacements, school closures, and worsening living conditions for millions of people.The UN official said that more than 6.4 million Haitians currently need humanitarian aid.
He also pointed out that nearly 1.5 million people have been displaced by armed violence, a figure that shows the scale of the crisis.
The Secretary-General expressed concern about the rising violence against women and girls, as well as the recruitment of children by armed groups.
Despite these challenges, António Guterres said he noticed several encouraging signs during his visit.
He specifically mentioned the gradual reopening of some neighborhoods in the metropolitan area, as well as the return of Cabinet meetings to the National Palace, which he sees as signs of a gradual strengthening of state authority.
The UN chief also visited members of the Gang Suppression Force.
According to him, deploying this force represents an important opportunity to reduce the influence of armed groups and improve security conditions. However, he emphasized the need to provide the engaged forces with the necessary resources, equipment, and training, while ensuring respect for human rights. Beyond security issues, António Guterres called on Haitian political actors to accelerate the political and institutional process. He believes that only an inclusive and democratic transition will restore the population’s trust and create the conditions necessary for holding credible elections. The UN official also denounced the underfunding of the international humanitarian response. According to him, the United Nations humanitarian plan aimed at assisting 4.2 million people is only about 25% funded.significantly limiting the ability of humanitarian agencies to intervene.He urged international donors to honor their commitments to avoid worsening the crisis.
Speaking directly to the international community, António Guterres called for increased support for security efforts, humanitarian aid, and the ongoing political process.
He also reminded everyone that sustainable solutions must come from the Haitians themselves.
Despite the ongoing challenges, the Secretary-General left Haiti with a message of hope.
“Haiti has everything it needs to recover,” he said, reaffirming the United Nations’ commitment to support the country in its quest for peace, stability, and development.
