America News Agency

Special Representative María Isabel Salvador told ambassadors at the Security Council that organized criminal groups are carrying out a “deliberate and coordinated” campaign to expand territorial control and paralyze the capital, Port-au-Prince.

Recent gang attacks have targeted previously unaffected areas such as Delmas and Pétion-Ville, while a raid on the town of Mirebalais marked the fifth prison break in under a year.

“The scale of the violence has caused panic among the population,” Salvador said.

According to UN figures, over 1,000 people were killed and around 400 injured in February and March. In addition to one million Haitians already forcibly displaced by the end of 2024, another 60,000 have recently been uprooted.

The crisis is affecting every aspect of life in Haiti. The suspension of commercial flights to Port-au-Prince and closure of key roads are hindering UN operations and forcing agencies to reduce their presence and deliver lifesaving aid remotely.

“The UN’s ability to remain operational depends on continued access, predictable funding, and support for logistical lifelines such as the World Food Programme (WFP) and the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS),” Salvador said, warning that any reduction in aid capacity could have dire consequences.