UN chief Guterres visits Haiti as gang violence surges

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UN Secretary General António Guterres arrived in Haiti on Tuesday for a one-day visit, as the Caribbean nation grapples with an escalating humanitarian crisis driven by powerful gang violence. According to reports from France 24, the visit comes at a time when over one in ten Haitians are homeless, with new UN statistics indicating that 2,300 people have been killed so far this year, along with 100 kidnappings and 1.5 million people displaced.

Coverage Comparison

Reports from France 24's English service provided consistent coverage of the visit, emphasizing the humanitarian dimensions of the crisis. One article highlighted Guterres' meeting with Prime Minister Alix Didier-Fils-Aimé and his stop at a makeshift shelter in a former school, where dozens of displaced people crowded around him. Another piece, published ahead of the visit, focused on the UN's support role, noting that Guterres would meet with men, women, and children affected by the violence and assess UN efforts to restore stability.

All three reports referenced the UN Security Council's approval of a new international Gang Suppression Force, which will gradually replace the previous Multinational Mission to Support the Haitian Police (MMAS), described as under-equipped and under-funded. The reports also noted that Guterres' visit follows his last trip to Port-au-Prince in July 2023.

Key Claims

• Humanitarian toll: The UN reports that nearly 1.5 million people are displaced in a country of about 11 million, and more than five million face severe food insecurity. At least 2,300 people have been killed and 100 kidnapped since the start of the year, according to UN figures cited by France 24.

• Guterres' itinerary: The Secretary-General met with Prime Minister Alix Didier-Fils-Aimé and visited a makeshift shelter in a former school. His convoy traveled through areas once controlled by gangs, passing destroyed car dealerships and buildings pockmarked with bullet holes, as well as makeshift homes under canvas tarps.

• Political context: Haiti has not held elections since 2016, primarily due to poor security. The security crisis worsened in early 2024 when gangs launched a wave of violence that forced the unelected prime minister to resign. He was replaced by an interim presidential council, whose mandate expired in February, passing executive power to Prime Minister Fils-Aimé.

• International response: The UN Security Council approved a new international Gang Suppression Force, which will replace the earlier Multinational Mission to Support the Haitian Police. UN spokesman Farhan Haq said Guterres would assess UN logistical and operational support to the force. UN rights chief Volker Turk called the new force "urgently needed" and urged Haitian authorities to tackle impunity.

Perspectives

Humanitarian perspective: The visit underscores the severity of the displacement crisis in Haiti, with over 300,000 people displaced in Port-au-Prince alone, a record according to the UN International Organisation for Migration. Gregoire Goodstein, IOM chief of mission in Haiti, warned the crisis is entering an "even more alarming phase."

Security perspective: The new Gang Suppression Force is seen as a critical tool to neutralize gangs, with France 24 reporting that powerful groups control an estimated 70% of Port-au-Prince. The US government has designated the Viv Ansanm gang federation as a foreign terrorist organization, highlighting the international dimension of the security threat.

Political perspective: The visit occurs amid political instability, with the prime minister under pressure to hold elections in a country that has lacked a president since the assassination of Jovenel Moïse in July 2021. The interim leadership has struggled to assert control, and the absence of elections since 2016 reflects the deep-rooted challenges.

No conflicting reports emerged among the sources, though the full texts of the articles may contain additional details not captured here. The visit also included a stop at the headquarters of the new gang-suppression force, which was not detailed in the available excerpts.