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The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has called for a crackdown on arms trafficking that is fueling gang violence and a humanitarian crisis in Haiti. Over 3,600 people have been killed in the country in the first half of this year, including 100 children, due to ongoing gang violence. The situation has been exacerbated by powerful armed groups with ties to political and business leaders vying for control of territory. The violence has led to a surge in internal displacement, with over 700,000 people forced from their homes and 1.6 million facing emergency food insecurity.
Arms trafficking from the United States, Dominican Republic, and Jamaica is contributing to the violence, with gangs obtaining high-caliber weapons, drones, boats, and an endless supply of bullets due to poorly monitored borders and coastlines. The UN rights chief has called for a global arms embargo, travel ban, and asset freeze program to address the issue.
In response to the violence, a UN-backed multinational force called the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) has been deployed in Haiti. However, only a fraction of the pledged troops have been deployed so far. The UN Security Council is set to vote on renewing the mission’s mandate, with discussions on potentially transitioning it into a formal peacekeeping mission to secure stable funding and capacity to effectively counter criminal gangs. The interim prime minister of Haiti has called for international support to address the crisis and prevent further harm to the population.
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