Haiti has reached 'pivotal moment,' approaching 'point of no return': UN

By Merve Aydogan

HAMILTON, Canada (AA)— The UN warned on Monday that Haiti is approaching a critical point and called for immediate international help as violence and displacement continue to escalate.

“Haiti has reached a pivotal moment. As I have already said, we are approaching a point of no return,” said Maria Isabel Salvador, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ special representative for Haiti, during a briefing to the Security Council.

She said organized criminal groups have launched coordinated attacks since late January to expand territorial control and weaken state authority.

“The scale and duration of this violence overwhelmed the Haitian National Police, despite support from the Armed Forces of Haiti and the Multinational Security Support Mission,” Salvador said.

Violence is spreading across the West, Centre, and Artibonite departments, she noted, describing it as “a strategy to stretch national security forces.”

In February and March, at least 1,086 people were killed and 383 injured, she said, citing figures from the International Organization for Migration. More than 60,000 were forcibly displaced during that time, adding to the one million already displaced by the end of 2024.

Salvador warned that the situation is deteriorating: "Without sufficient and predictable funding, even a minimal UN presence may become unsustainable."

She urged the Security Council to support the Sanctions Committee and its Panel of Experts, enforce the arms embargo, and list people contributing to the violence.

“Haiti could face total chaos, and any delay in your support could be a direct cause of such stark deterioration,” she said.

Haiti has faced years of gang violence and political turmoil, which escalated after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021.

A Kenyan-led force authorized by the UN has failed to push back the gangs. The mission has around 1,000 police officers from six countries.

The UN said about 5.5 million Haitians required humanitarian assistance in 2024, up from 5.2 million the year before.