SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The United States (US) government will pull visas belonging to current and former Haitian government officials involved with criminal organizations as well as provide security and humanitarian assistance to Haiti, senior US officials said Wednesday.

The officials spoke to reporters by telephone on condition of anonymity as a US delegation was arriving in the Caribbean country that has been paralyzed by gangs and antigovernment protests and is facing severe shortages of water, fuel and other basic supplies.

The US officials declined to name which Haitian officials would see their visas revoked or how many would be affected, adding only that the measure also applies to their immediate family members.

The US officials also said the government is working with Mexico on a UN resolution proposing specific sanctions and additional measures to address the many challenges Haiti faces.

The officials declined to say how the upcoming aid would be distributed, although they noted that the US Coast Guard will deploy a major cutter at the request of local officials.

They also declined to say when, how and what kind of security and humanitarian assistance will be deployed, adding only that supplies such as bleach, water jugs and oral rehydration salts will be distributed amid the cholera outbreak.

As of Sunday, authorities in Haiti had reported 18 deaths and more than 260 suspected cases of cholera in Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas.

“Cholera has arrived amid serious ongoing social and political unrest,” said Dr Carissa Etienne, director of the Pan American Health Organization, adding that the situation complicates “efforts to provide humanitarian assistance and to respond the outbreak.”

Etienne warned on Wednesday that cases are likely significantly higher than what’s being reported because they are concentrated in areas affected by escalating street violence and gang activity.

US Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian Nichols flew to Haiti Wednesday and was scheduled to meet with politicians and civil society leaders, including Prime Minister Ariel Henry and a prominent group that has pushed to lead a two-year transitional government and rejected Henry’s petition for foreign troops.

Nichols was accompanied by the military deputy commander of of the Defense Department’s Southern Command, White House senior advisors and other officials.

The trip comes just days after Henry requested the immediate deployment of foreign troops to help with security. Gangs have blockaded a major fuel depot and protests against Henry have added to the problems.

“The delegation will assess how the US government can continue to provide various forms of assistance and promote accountability for those responsible for criminal acts,” the US State Department said.

Since last year, the US has provided Haiti with more than $170 million in humanitarian assistance and another $90 million to strengthen Haiti’s National Police.

But the department remains understaffed and has limited resources to fight gangs that have grown more powerful since President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated in July 2021.