Published on: 2026-07-20
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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July 20, 2026 Peace and Security
Every morning millions of residents of Haiti wake up with the same question: will they manage to safely get through another day? Will the parents be able to find food, the children get to school, and the families avoid encounters with armed gangs that are increasingly infiltrating the daily life of the country.
It was about this crisis, which has long ceased to be solely an internal problem of Haiti, that members of the UN Security Council and representatives of the Organization spoke on Monday. The speakers called on the international community not to miss the chance to change the situation.
According to the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy to Haiti, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, the country is experiencing a turning point. Despite ongoing violence, humanitarian crisis, and weak state institutions, the first signs of progress have appeared. The authorities have adopted a revised electoral decree, agreed on the election budget, and on Monday, voter registration began – an important step towards the restoration of democratic governance.
“Security is essential for conducting credible elections. However, security issues should not be a reason to delay the political process,” Ruiz Massieu emphasized. According to him, election preparation and improving the security situation must proceed simultaneously, as this is the only way to maintain the momentum achieved.
The first steps of a new international force
An important topic of the meeting was the deployment in Haiti of international Forces against banditry, operating with the support of the UN. The special representative of this unit, Jack Christofides, reported that the mission has already moved from preparation to practical actions. A headquarters, management and coordination system have been established, the first base deployed, regular patrols and initial operations against armed groups have begun.
In June, the forces conducted a raid in Port-au-Prince: suspects were detained and hundreds of bottles of incendiary mixture were destroyed. Later, caches of homemade explosive devices were eliminated and weapons seized.
“The institutional foundations are already established, and the operational model demonstrates potential. If the pace we’ve set can be maintained, the Forces against Banditry will be able to expand their activities and increase pressure on gangs and their patron networks. Otherwise, we risk losing the progress achieved,” said Christofides.
Assistant to the Secretary-General Daniela Kroslak reported that the number of international forces has already reached nearly 1,100 personnel from several countries. It is expected to increase to approximately 2,400 people by the end of the current mandate, which will allow operations to expand beyond the capital.
Gangs take over not only the streets
The Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Monica Juma, warned that the nature of the crisis has changed. According to her, armed groups are no longer limited to fighting for territory.
“The gangs strive to take control of management systems and economic arteries on which the lives of communities and the functioning of government institutions depend. They fight for transport corridors, fuel supplies, food distribution, and illegal markets,” she noted.
Juma emphasized that organized crime effectively replaces the state, holding the population and authorities hostage. At the same time, the consequences are felt far beyond the country’s borders. Illegal arms trafficking, drug trafficking, and illegal migration routes pass through Haiti, connecting the Caribbean basin with North and South America.
“The crisis in Haiti is no longer just a security crisis. It is a crisis of state governance, fueled by organized crime,” said the head of the UN Police.
Children are at the epicenter of the crisis
The situation of children is a particular concern for the meeting participants. Vanessa Fraser, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict, recently visited Haiti and described what she saw as one of the most troubling situations in the world.
According to the UN, just last year, 2088 serious violations of children’s rights were confirmed. Nearly 900 boys and girls were recruited by armed groups, more than 600 were injured or killed, and hundreds were abducted. The Organization estimates that today children may make up more than half of the gang members.
“Children associated with gangs should be considered primarily as victims,” Fraser stated, urging authorities and the international community to focus on their rehabilitation, reunification with families, and education, rather than solely on criminal prosecution.
The Deputy Secretary-General called for making the interests of children the main guideline in decision-making.
“Children who have experienced violence must receive the support they need to heal, recover, and rebuild their lives,” she said.
According to the participants of the meeting, the fate of Haiti matters not only to its 11 million inhabitants. The country remains an important part of the Caribbean region, and what happens there affects the security of neighboring states, migration flows, and transnational organized crime. The UN believes that the international community now has a real chance to help Haiti change its development trajectory, but this requires long-term political support, financing, and close cooperation with national authorities.
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