- UN special envoy Maria Isabel Salvador says Haiti is nearing collapse.
- Gang violence is spreading, especially in Port-au-Prince.
- Citizens are losing faith in the state’s ability to protect or provide.
- Cholera, sexual violence, and hunger continue to rise.
- The UN-backed multinational force, led by Kenya, is still underpowered.
- The international community is being urged to act swiftly.
In a powerful message to the UN Security Council on Monday, Maria Isabel Salvador, the United Nations’ special representative to Haiti, painted a bleak picture of the country’s current state. She warned that Haiti is dangerously close to reaching a “point of no return,” and without immediate international support, the country could plunge into full-scale anarchy.
Gangs Tighten Grip on Port-au-Prince
According to Salvador, armed criminal groups are expanding their control over new regions across the capital, Port-au-Prince, unleashing waves of brutal crimes. The gangs are not just taking over areas—they’re running them, using rape, murder, abductions, and extortion as their daily tools of dominance.
Ordinary Haitians are living in fear, with little hope that their government can offer safety or services. Salvador expressed deep concern over the rising hopelessness and vulnerability of the population, saying many people now doubt if the state can respond to their urgent needs.
Beyond the violence, Haiti’s humanitarian crisis continues to worsen. Cholera outbreaks are emerging again, gender-based violence is on the rise, and basic needs like food, clean water, and healthcare remain scarce. Haiti, already the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, is facing a storm of suffering with few signs of relief.
Although the UN approved the deployment of a multinational support mission for Haiti, only around 1,000 officers from six countries have arrived so far—mostly led by Kenya. That number falls far below the 2,500 target, and Salvador admitted the force has yet to seriously disrupt the gangs’ grip on power.
In closing her statement, Salvador issued a heartfelt appeal to the world’s leaders:
“I urge you to remain engaged and answer the urgent needs of the country and its people.”
The situation is deteriorating fast, and without decisive action, Haiti risks slipping into irreversible collapse.
