The United Nations chief issued a warning in a report released on Wednesday about the escalating threat posed by gangs in Haiti, emphasizing that without additional international support for the national police, the capital city of Port-au-Prince could face a breakdown of government authority.

The Secretary-General’s report outlined a disturbing trend of intensified and coordinated gang violence, with a coalition of gangs aiming to disrupt the political transition, launching repeated attacks on state institutions and critical infrastructure in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area. These attacks targeted police stations, prisons, hospitals, and even the main international airport, posing a significant threat to public safety and stability.

According to the report, the civilian population has also been the target of these gangs, with a staggering number of homicides recorded by the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH). The report further detailed the horrifying acts of sexual violence, child recruitment, and extrajudicial killings perpetrated by gangs, as well as retaliatory violence from vigilante groups, painting a grim picture of the deteriorating security situation in the country.

The Secretary-General’s report underscored the urgent need for international intervention to bolster the national police and prevent a collapse of security institutions. Failure to act decisively could embolden the gangs to seize control of the entire metropolitan area, plunging the nation into chaos and rendering international operations untenable.

In response to the escalating crisis, regional and international partners have increased their support, focusing on enhancing security cooperation and addressing shared challenges such as border security and economic cooperation. The report commended the Caribbean Community’s efforts to facilitate dialogue among Haitian stakeholders to achieve common goals and restore stability.

During the briefing, Maria Isabel Salvador, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti, expressed hope for progress on the political front despite the challenges in security. She highlighted the alarming incidents of gang violence targeting commercial aircraft and triggering violent clashes across the capital, emphasizing the urgent need for collective action to address the crisis.

The United States Ambassador and the United Kingdom Ambassador both condemned the ongoing attacks and brutal violence perpetrated by gangs, stressing the importance of restoring stability to Haiti to ensure peace and security in the region. The severe shortages of essential supplies further exacerbating the suffering of the Haitian people were also highlighted as a pressing concern.

The recent report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights revealed the alarming levels of gang violence in Haiti, with over 5,600 reported fatalities in 2024 alone. The escalating violence, along with the high number of injuries and kidnappings, underscores the urgent humanitarian crisis gripping the nation and the need for immediate international support and intervention.