The question concerning Haiti - Security Council, 9902nd meeting

Haiti ‘running out of time’, delegate warns Security Council, noting possible fall of capital to gangs cannot be allowed.

• Categories: Meetings & Events / Security Council
• Video Length: 01:59:28
• Production Date: 21 April 2025
• Asset Language: Arabic; English; French; Russian; Spanish; Chinese; Original
• Personal Subject: MARÍA ISABEL SALVADOR
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS INTEGRATED OFFICE IN HAITI - BINUH; CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY - CARICOM
• Subject Topical: HAITI SITUATION; ORGANIZED CRIME; DISPLACED PERSONS; PEACE AND SECURITY; SANCTIONS; ARMS EMBARGO; POLITICAL CONDITIONS; ELECTIONS; CONFLICT; HUMAN RIGHTS; WOMEN; GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE; SEXUAL VIOLENCE; ARMED GROUPS; HUMANITARIAN CRISIS; CIVILIAN PROTECTION; RULE OF LAW
• Geographic Subject: HAITI
• MAMS Id: 3363094
• Parent Id: 3362779

Description

The situation in Haiti has reached a pivotal moment and is further deteriorating and approaching what is likely to become “a point of no return”, requiring urgent international attention and political will to address the rapid erosion of that country’s statehood, briefers told the Security Council today. 

Highlighting how organized criminal groups since late January have launched coordinated attacks to expand territorial control, undermine State authority and stretch national forces, María Isabel Salvador, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), said the most recent attack in Mirebalais saw gangs seizing that city and orchestrating a prison break — the fifth in under a year — in which over 500 inmates were released. Meanwhile, in February and March 2025, 1,086 people were killed, 383 injured and more than 60,000 forcibly displaced — added to the 1 million as of December 2024. 

She underscored the importance of future measures aimed at strengthening security institutions, noting that “any effort by the Haitian Government will not be enough to significantly reduce the intensity and violence of criminal groups”. Therefore, the international community must ramp up support for the Caribbean nation, “particularly through increased funding and operational capacity for the Multinational Security Support mission”. Calling on the Security Council to renew its engagement and support for the Sanctions Committee and Panel of Experts — including by adding names to the Sanctions List and urging Member States to fully enforce the arms embargo, she urged the 15-member organ to “remain engaged and answer the urgent needs of the country and its people”. 

• Briefer: Ms. María Isabel Salvador, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti 
• Briefer: Ms. Monica Juma, National Security Advisor to the President of the Republic of Kenya (via video-teleconference) 
• Briefer: Ms. Pascale Solages, Co-Founder and General Coordinator, Nègès Mawon 
• Statements: All Council members, with Guyana speaking on behalf of: Algeria, Guyana, Sierra Leone, Somalia 
• Statement: Haiti 
• Statement: His Excellency Roberto Álvarez Gil, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dominican Republic 

Related Sites and Documents

UN Press Coverage

S/PV.9902