UN secretary-general to visit Haiti

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is set to visit Haiti next Tuesday for a solidarity mission aimed at confronting the nation's deepening crisis. During his visit, Guterres will engage directly with individuals whose lives have been devastated by pervasive violence.

The UN chief plans to gain a firsthand understanding of the severe humanitarian and security challenges plaguing Haiti. He will also assess the ongoing efforts by national authorities and the international community to restore stability and provide support to the Haitian people. This visit comes as the country grapples with an escalating security situation, with heavily armed gangs reportedly controlling up to 85 percent of the capital, Port-au-Prince.

Guterres's agenda includes evaluating the United Nations' multifaceted support for Haiti, particularly the logistical and operational assistance provided to the newly authorized Gang Suppression Force. This force, comprising up to 5,500 personnel, aims to neutralize gangs and secure critical infrastructure, following Security Council Resolution 2793. The visit also occurs against a backdrop of immense human suffering, with over 1.45 million people internally displaced and 6.4 million requiring urgent humanitarian aid.

In addition to assessing the security and humanitarian landscape, Guterres is expected to meet with Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé. The meeting is significant as Haiti prepares for elections, widely anticipated before the end of the year. Guterres's itinerary also includes a stop in the Dominican Republic before returning to New York on June 17.

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will meet men, women and children whose lives have been affected by violence and “will see firsthand the humanitarian and security challenges facing the country, as well as efforts by national authorities and the international community to restore stability and support the Haitian people”.