UNITED NATIONS (CMC) — The head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), Maria Isabel Salvador, says the French-speaking Caribbean Community (Caricom) country is showing signs of progress on the political front despite serious setbacks in terms of security.

Salvador, earlier this week updated ambassadors on the situation in Haiti, where a political transition process to restore democratic institutions continues against a backdrop of ongoing gang violence, mainly in the capital, Port-au-Prince.

“At this crucial time, Haiti needs your continued support more than ever,” she told the United Nations (UN) Security Council, speaking from the Haitian capital.

“In order to organise a constitutional revision process and credible, participative and inclusive elections in this crisis context, Haitian actors must overcome their differences and work together.”

Salvador reported on recent developments including the appointment of a new prime minister in November which has led to improved collaboration between the Transitional Presidential Council and the current government.

The final two members of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) have been appointed which she welcomed, noting that “four of the nine members are now women, which is an important step towards greater gender inclusion in the electoral process”.

She said that the National Conference on Constitutional Reform also continues its work, and the constitutional referendum and general elections remain targeted for this year.

However, Salvador said “the transition framework remains fragile”, characterised by increasing fragmentation within the Transitional Presidential Council, combined with persistent external criticism of the body.

Furthermore, three council members face serious corruption allegations which has heightened tensions. Some political actors have written to the Caricom grouping to facilitate a national dialogue.

Meanwhile, armed gangs continue terrorising the Haitian population and the insecurity has impacted humanitarian operations.

On November 11, 2024, gangs attacked commercial aircraft near the Port-au-Prince airport, forcing its closure and the suspension of all flights. They have also carried out attacks across the capital including the killing last month of 207 people in Wharf Jérémie, located in the Cité Soleil neighbourhood.

Salvador said the Haitian National Police (HNP), supported by the Kenya-led UN Security Council-backed Multinational Security Support mission (MSS) and, in some cases, the Armed Forces of Haiti, has made efforts to respond to the surge in violence.

Salvador welcomed the deployment of an additional 217 police officers from Kenya on January 18. Furthermore, 150 Guatemalans and an advance team of eight Salvadorean troops have also arrived in Haiti.

“The worsening security crisis has significantly impacted United Nations operations. In response to the suspension of flights to Port-au-Prince and widespread violence, the UN decided to temporarily reduce its footprint in the capital while continuing to provide lifesaving assistance.”

She stressed that the UN remains committed to scaling up its presence as soon as security conditions allow.

Salvador said the humanitarian crisis in Haiti has reached alarming levels. Over six million people, nearly half the population, require assistance with nearly four million targeted for aid.

The number of internally displaced people has tripled to over one million and more than half are children. An estimated 48 per cent of people are facing food insecurity, with nearly two million in emergency conditions and 6,000 in catastrophic conditions.

She urged donors to support the 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan for Haiti which calls for US$908 million to address the suffering and support recovery.

Head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Ghada Waly, also briefed the council, telling ambassadors that the ongoing violence and instability in Haiti are compounded by illicit arms flows, drug trafficking and other illicit markets, and underpinned by corruption and money laundering.

“Despite the reinforcement of the arms embargo, weapons and ammunition trafficking continue to flow into Haiti and into the hands of gangs,” she said, adding that while the drug trade is key among illicit markets, others are also “booming”, such as wildlife crime.

She said there is growing evidence that several Haitian nationals are part of a wider criminal network connected to lucrative eel trafficking, operating in the country and beyond.

“Some reports indicate that powerful political and economic figures in Haiti use the eel industry to launder drug profits,” she added.

Waly underscored the importance of enhancing Haiti’s capacities against trafficking, improving regional cooperation and information sharing, and strengthening the country’s institutions.

She also reaffirmed UNODC’s commitment to work with the Haitian authorities and partners to tackle the underlying structures of organised crime and corruption.