The UN chief expressed deep concern about the extreme vulnerability facing the Haitian people, especially women and girls, due to brutally violent and “predatory” armed gangs such as those surrounding the capital, block the main roads and controlling access to water, food, healthcare.
“I condemn in the strongest possible terms generalized sexual violence that have the armed gangs used as a weapon to instill fear“, he said, calling on the entire international community to “urgently put the victims and the civilian population at the center of our concerns and priorities”.
Deployment of an international force
Speaking to journalists in the Haitian capital, Mr. Guterres said lasting and fully representative political solutions in Haiti would be impossible without one drastic improvement of the security situation.
“Every day counts. If we don’t act now, instability and violence will have a lasting impact on generations of Haitians,” the Secretary-General warned, calling on all partners to increase their support for the national police in the form of funding, training or equipment.
However, this assistance alone may not be sufficient to restore the State’s authority.
“I keep demanding Security Council to authorize the immediate deployment of a robust international force to assist the Haitian National Police in his fight against the gangs”, the head of the UN stressed.
Politician entente to end the crisis
During his one-day visit to the Haitian capital, the Secretary-General met with Prime Minister Ariel Henry, the High Transitional Council, members of civil society and political parties, speaking with all of them about the need of a politician entente to end the crisis’.
“He calls on all actors to create the necessary conditions for the restoration of democratic institutions“said Mr. Guterres, inviting all parties involved to “rise above personal interests and make concessions” allow the emergence of a common vision and establish a viable and credible electoral path.
He praised the recent inter-Haian talksfacilitated by the CARICOM Group of Eminent Persons, with the aim of reaching an agreement on the formation of a government of national unity and the expansion of the High Transitional Council.
“Only an inclusive national dialogue, with the full participation of women and young people – will help end insecurity and find lasting political solutions,” Guterres said, adding that the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BIRTH) and the entire United Nations system would continue to support these efforts.
“A matter of moral justice”
While in Port-au-Prince, the Secretary General met with local men and women.
“I heard the whole thing the exhaustion of a people who have long been facing a cascade of crises and unacceptable living conditions. I heard their call for help,” the UN chief said, noting that one in two Haitians currently lives in extreme poverty, suffers from hunger and lacks regular access to safe drinking water.
With the Haitian people facing such serious challenges, the Secretary General lamented that UN humanitarian response plan, which requires $720 million to help more than three million people, it is only 23 percent funded.
It is “a matter of solidarity and moral justice” that the international community steps up, he said.
He particularly praised the courage and dedication of humanitarian workers who provide help despite many obstacles and called on all stakeholders to respect human rights and international law and to ensure security and unhindered humanitarian access to people in need in Haiti.
“There is no solution without the Haitian people”
Not more inclusive and sustainable development it will help break the historic cycle of crises, address humanitarian and security challenges and create a stable constitutional and political environment, the UN chief said.
“No solution can be found without the Haitian people“, he continued, but acknowledged that the scale of the problems requires the full support of the international community.
To achieve this and more, the Secretary-General said he will head to Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday, where he will participate in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Summit, which brings together the 20 countries of the region, among others.
