Gang violence is surging to unprecedented levels in Haiti, UN envoy says

An unprecedented surge in gang violence is plaguing Haiti with the number of victims killed injured and kidnapped more than doubling last year the UN special envoy for the conflictwrecked Caribbean nations said ThursdayIn a grim briefing Maria Isabel Salvador told the UN Security Council I cannot overstress the severity of the situation in Haiti where multiple protracted crises have reached a critical pointShe said the 8400 victims of gang violence documented by her UN office last year a 122 per cent rise from 2022 were mainly targeted by gangs in the capital PortauPrinceSome 300 gangs control an estimated 80 per cent of the capital and accounted for 83 per cent of last years killings and injuries Salvador said But she added their tentacles have reached northward into the Artibonite region considered Haitis food basket and south of the capital gangs conducted largescale attacks to control key zones systematically using sexual violence to exert controlThe briefing came more than three months after the Security Council approved the deployment of a multinational armed force led by Kenya to help bring gang violence under controlBut the deployment of Kenyan security officers has faced a series of hurdles It finally got a green light from Kenyas parliament And Kenyas UN ambassador Martin Kimani told the council a court verdict in a case brought by an individual seeking to block the deployment would be announced FridayIf the court allows the deployment Kenyan authorities told The Associated Press last month that the first group of about 300 officers was expected to arrive in Haiti by February Kenyas contribution would eventually rise to 1000 officers at the head of a 3000strong multinational force Burundi Chad Senegal Jamaica and Belize have pledged troops for the multinational missionHaitis National Police are no match for the gangs Less than 10000 officers are on duty at any time in a country of more than 11 million people Ideally there should be some 25000 active officers according to the UNSalvador told the council that although 795 new recruits will join the force in March about 1600 police officers left the force in 2023 according to data gathered by her office further diminishing the Haitian polices ability to counter gang violence and maintain securityHaitian Foreign Minister Jean Victor Geacutenus said the country stands at a decisive crossroads on which the hopes for Haitis future are pinnedThe Haitian people have had enough of the armed gangs savagery he said adding that the gangs have stepped up their activities perhaps concerned that the multinational mission is going to arrive any dayEvery passing day that this longawaited support has not yet arrived is one day too many one day too many that were being subjected to the hell imposed on us by the gangs Geacutenus said Given that time is of the essence we would like to see a swift and effective deploymentKenyas ambassador said the government has made significant progress preparing for the deployment while awaiting the court decision including making assessment missions to HaitiKenya is preparing for a planning conference with other police contributing countries in midFebruary Kimani said and it is engaging with partners to prepare a pledging conference to mobilize funds for the missionThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever