María Isabel Salvador (BINUH) on the situation…

Madam President, Distinguished Members of the Council, Excellencies,Ladies and Gentlemen,One year ago, almost to the day, I briefed this Council for the first time as SpecialRepresentative of the Secretary-General for Haiti and Head of BINUH. At thattime and in briefings since, I spoke about the multiple protracted crises affectingHaiti and the urgent need for action.
Since April of 2023, I have consistently called attention to the imperative to restoresecurity conditions conducive to the holding of elections in Haiti. I welcomed thisCouncil's authorization of the deployment of the Multinational Security Supportmission, also known as the MSS, last October, in response to Haiti's appeal to theinternational community the year before.Today, it pains me to note that some of the worst scenarios for Haiti have cometrue in recent months and weeks. During the two private s
essions you convened, on 6 March and 18 March, I provided a detailed account ofthe dramatic and unprecedented spiral of violence in the country. It is impossible tooverstate the increase in gang activity across Port-au-Prince and beyond, thedeterioration of the human rights situation and the deepening of the humanitariancrisis. Meanwhile, only a small percentage, 8.1 per cent, of the 674-million dollar2024 Humanitarian Response Plan for Haiti has been funded.In early March gangs mounted coordinated attacks targeting key stateinfrastructure, including multiple police stations and two of the main prisons in
Port-au-Prince, as well as educational and health facilities, and religious sites. Theyalso launched several attacks against the Presidential Palace, which resulted infierce confrontations with the Haitian National Police leading to multiplecasualties. Since 3 March, gang confrontations around the international airport inPort-au-Prince forced all commercial airlines to halt services, a situation thatcontinues to this day. With the support and control of HNP and the Armed Forcesof Haigti, works to secure the perimeter around the airport are underway.During the first quarter of the year around 2,500 persons were killed or injured asa result of gang violence. This is a 53 per cent increase as compared to the previousreporting period and makes the first quarter of 2024 the most violent sinceBINUH's Human Rights Section started recording statistics in January 2022.Violent clashes between the two main gang coalitions have resulted in masskillings of the local population and looting and burning of houses. Gangs havesystematically targeted state infrastructure and attacked those performing key rolesin governance, including judges and police officers, as well as human rightsdefenders and journalists. These attacks have further weakened state institutionsand deepened the already critical challenges to the re-establishment of rule of law.The impact of gang violence on the rights of children remains of particularconcern. Gang activity has severely limited access to essential services, includinghealthcare and education, and has exacerbated food insecurity. Further, pushed bythe lack of socio-economic opportunities, an alarming number of children havebeen recruited into the ranks of gangs where, not only are they exposed to beingkilled or seriously injured during clashes with other gangs or with the police, butthey also commit acts of violence, including killings, kidnappings, and rape.Women and young girls continue to be subjected to sexual violence, includingcollective rape, by heavily armed gang members who use this form of violence as astrategy for territorial control.In this context of extreme insecurity, the Haitian National Police, assisted by themodest Armed Forces of Haiti and advised by BINUH as well as otherinternational partners has deployed immense efforts to contain the spiral ofviolence in the country while being targeted by armed gangs, with some successfuloperations. Nevertheless, the severity of the current crisis underscores the gaps in
capacity within the national structures and the urgent need for internationalassistance, namely through the timely deployment of the MSS.Madam President,Ladies and Gentlemen,The dramatic increase in violence in Port-au-Prince forced the United Nations,
some embassies and international organizations to adjust our footprints in Port-au-Prince.
Amid this staggering situation, however, Haitian stakeholders have been workingon putting differences aside towards a common path for the restoration ofdemocratic institutions. A first important step was the commitment made at themeeting facilitated by CARICOM on 11 March for the establishment of aTransitional Presidential Council, also known as the TPC, designed to pave the
way towards democratic stability. Priorities should include an action plan for near-term security, including through sustained cooperation with the international
community for the prompt deployment of the MSS, and the organization ofcredible, participatory and inclusive elections. Attention must also be paid to thethousands of displaced people, including women and children, victims of gangsviolence.I recognize Prime Minister Ariel Henry's commitment last March to resigningimmediately after the installation of the TPC and the appointment of a new interimprime minister. The outgoing administration's intention to manage ongoing affairsuntil a new prime minister and government are in place avoids a dangerousvacuum and will ensure a seamless transfer of power to the new transitionalgovernment.Since the 11 March announcement, a month-long consultation process amongstakeholders has led to the designation of seven voting members and two observersto the TPC. There is only one woman and no representation of youth. Thememebers represent nine groups of a broad range of political actors, the businesssector and civil society. Its non-renewable mandate runs up to 7 February 2026 bywhich date a new president is to be inaugurated and all elected authorities to besworn in. Alongside the TPC, a number of other bodies are expected to be created,including a National Security Council and a Provisional Electoral Council which is
urgently required to set plans in motion for the organization of elections. Iencourage stakeholders to continue to work and maintain the same spirit, settingaside differences in the interest of Haiti and its people.Madam President,Ladies and Gentlemen,I welcome the publication on 12 and 16 April of Executive decrees establishing theTPC and appointing its members. I urge all Haitian stakeholders to put in place theenvisaged transitional governance arrangements as swiftly as possible, especiallythe appointment of an interim Prime Minister and government, and the promptnomination of the Provisional Electoral Council.I particularly urge Haitian stakeholders to strive for a greater and meaningfulparticipation of women, youth and minority groups in the decision-makingprocesses that will define the future of Haiti for years to come.Despite recent positive developments on the political front, a much-improvedsecurity situation remains a condition sine qua non for further progress. Gangleaders and other spoilers have stated their intention to violently disrupt the currentpolitical process. I cannot stress enough the need to assist Haiti with its efforts toreestablish security. One and a half years since Haiti requested assistance toenhance security and more than six months since this Council authorized thedeployment of the MSS we must continue to stress the importance of its urgentdeployment. The sanctions regime is an effective tool to discourage destabilizationattempts by spoilers and criminals, towards transparent political advancementI mentioned at the start of my remarks that only a small percentage of the 674-million USD humanitarian response plan is funded, yet the humanitarian situationcontinues to spiral in an unprecedented downward trend. Since the start of thelatest round of violence, the number of people in need has continued to growexponentially. Since 8 March, close to 100,000 Haitians have left Port au Prince forthe regions, escaping gang violence in search of security. Food insecurity alsoremains rampant across the country, with half of the population suffering fromsevere food insecurity. The multiple protracted crises (political, security,humanitarian) that Haiti continues to face must be worked out together. Onlythrough an inclusive, participatory, credible and transparent process that leads to a
renewed democratically elected governance will sustainable development becomea reality possibility for the people of Haiti.Madam President,Ladies and Gentlemen,I would like to emphasize the commitment of the United Nations in Haiti, and ofits personnel to continue delivering on its mandate and supporting Haitianstakeholders as they strive to enable a secure environment and restore democraticinstitutions. BINUH, within its mandate, continues to be engaged withstakeholders. The CARICOM facilitated process created opportunities for a new
transitional governance arrangement that should permit a Haitian-led, Haitian-owned political process that leads to the organization of inclusive, participatory
and credible elections. I urge Haitian stakeholders to put their differences aside and
deliver for the people of Haiti through the implementation of a sustainable, time-bound and commonly accepted roadmap.
I encourage the international community to continue to stand in solidarity with thepeople of Haiti. In this sense, and at this very critical and unique juncture for Haiti,I urge all Member States to continue funding the Humanitarian Response Plan; andwith no delay to firm up pledges for the deployment of the Multinational SecuritySupport mission to Haiti.
Thank you.