Haiti's anti-gang force expands operations to Artibonite

Haiti's Gang Suppression Force (GSF) has extended its operations beyond the capital for the first time, deploying Sri Lankan personnel to the Artibonite region. This move marks an expansion into one of the areas most affected by armed groups spreading inland from Port-au-Prince.

The United Nations-backed mission announced the deployment on social media, stating that the Sri Lankan contingent will begin operations in Artibonite. The GSF also deployed soldiers to Cité-Soleil and La Saline over the weekend, responding to armed confrontations between rival gang factions that erupted on August 6 in the capital.

"The GSF is supporting the National Police of Haiti to stabilize the area and mitigate damage to civilians and key infrastructure," the mission stated. The GSF, authorized by the UN Security Council, has an initial 12-month mandate and includes police and military personnel.

This expansion occurs against a backdrop of severe insecurity in Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas. Official figures indicate that between March 1, 2025, and January 15 of this year, violence resulted in 5,519 deaths and 2,608 injuries. The persistent violence has severely impacted healthcare services. Médicos Sin Fronteras (MSF) recently suspended medical services at the Isaïe Jeanty maternity hospital in Cité Soleil due to nearby clashes, leaving thousands of women without access to reproductive health services in an area with already limited medical care.

MSF teams treated 27 gunshot victims within 24 hours at their Cité Soleil and Tabarre hospitals, activating mass casualty response plans amid ongoing fighting. The GSF's deployment aims to address the escalating violence, which has caused thousands of deaths and displacements in recent years, drawing significant national and international concern.

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El GSF está apoyando a la Policía Nacional de Haití para estabilizar la zona y mitigar el daño a civiles e infraestructuras clave