The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has called for a crackdown on arms trafficking fueling the gang violence in Haiti, which has resulted in over 3,600 deaths, including 100 children, in the first half of this year. The report highlights the serious human rights violations and abuses taking place in the country, fueled by the availability of high-caliber weapons obtained through poorly monitored airspaces, coastlines, and porous borders. UN rights chief Volker Turk urged the international community to implement a global arms embargo, a travel ban, and an asset freeze program to address the crisis.
The surge in violence prompted the resignation of Haiti’s unelected prime minister and the deployment of a UN-backed multinational force called the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS). However, only a fraction of the pledged troops have been deployed so far. Haiti is requesting the UN to consider turning the mission into a formal peacekeeping mission to secure stable funds and capacity to effectively counter the criminal gangs wreaking havoc on people’s lives.
The report comes as the UN Security Council is set to vote on whether to renew the MSS’s mandate on September 30. The interim prime minister of Haiti has called for international support to address the worsening humanitarian crisis in the country. The violence has led to a significant increase in the number of internally displaced people and those facing emergency food insecurity. Haiti is facing a dire situation that requires urgent international assistance to address the root causes of the violence and provide stability to the population.
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