Haiti renews appeal for international help as gangs tighten grip on capital

Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) is calling on the international community to urgently support efforts to restore security in the crisis-hit Caribbean nation, where armed gangs have taken control of much of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and nearby communities.

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“I specifically call on all states to make effective contributions to the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), approved by the United Nations Security Council on September 30,” said TPC President Laurent Saint-Cyr, addressing the second World Summit for Social Development. “Making the Gang Repression Force operational as soon as possible, while learning from the experience of the Multinational Security Support Mission, is an imperative of international solidarity.”

The GSF, authorized to deploy up to 5,550 personnel, will focus on dismantling gangs, protecting key infrastructure, and securing humanitarian access. Saint-Cyr said the mission’s activation is essential for restoring stability and advancing social development in Haiti, adding that “the social development that the Haitian people and people around the world deserve requires peace, stability and security.”

Created in April 2024, the TPC is tasked with leading Haiti to free and credible elections once order is restored. Saint-Cyr reaffirmed the council’s commitment to improving security with international backing, rebuilding the economy, and supporting displaced citizens. He also noted ongoing efforts to reintegrate children and young people previously involved with armed groups through vocational programs.

The Haitian leader thanked international partners for their support following Hurricane Melissa, which caused widespread damage and highlighted the country’s vulnerability. The government reported on Tuesday that 43 people have died, 21 were injured, and 13 remain missing after landslides and flooding ravaged more than 30 towns in the southwest.

Saint-Cyr said the government’s priorities include security, humanitarian relief, elections, and economic recovery — but stressed that Haiti needs sustained investment rather than short-term aid. “Development requires peace, security, and stability,” he said, urging global partners to stand in solidarity with the Haitian people.