In the midst of the escalating gang violence in Haiti that has claimed the lives of over 3,600 people this year, the United Nations has called for urgent action to crack down on arms trafficking that fuels the crisis. The UN rights chief Volker Turk has condemned the “senseless criminality” and urged the international community to implement a global arms embargo and other measures to curb the flow of weapons to armed groups in Haiti. The violence in the country has been exacerbated by the poorly monitored airspaces, coastlines, and porous borders that allow gangs to obtain high-calibre weapons.
The UN report highlights the widespread human rights violations and abuses taking place in Haiti, including the use of sexual violence to instill fear and control populations. The situation has deteriorated significantly this year, leading to the resignation of the unelected prime minister and the deployment of a multinational peacekeeping force to support Haiti.
However, with only a fraction of the pledged troops deployed so far, the international community is being urged to provide more support to combat the criminal gangs effectively and prevent further havoc on the lives of the Haitian people. The interim prime minister of Haiti has called for international assistance at the UN General Assembly, as the number of internally displaced people and those facing food insecurity continues to rise.
As the UN Security Council prepares to vote on whether to renew the mandate of the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti, there are growing calls to transform it into a formal peacekeeping mission to ensure stable funding and capacity to address the crisis in the country. Immediate action is needed to prevent further loss of life and alleviate the suffering of the Haitian population.
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