UN Secretary-General António Guterres reaffirmed on Monday "the urgent need for the deployment of an international specialized armed force" in Haiti and urged countries in the region to consider halting the

deportation of Haitians until the human rights and humanitarian crises have been adequately addressed.

The recommendations were released as part of a report by the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti, and Guterres noted that gang-related violence and human rights abuses have reached a critical level.

"The people of Haiti are suffering the worst human rights and humanitarian emergency in decades," he wrote.

Guterres noted that while last year's gang-led blockade of a major fuel terminal is over, a special force is still needed to ensure key infrastructure remains unimpeded and people can vote safely at polls. a general election whose date has not been set.

The number of reported murders jumped 35% last year from the previous year, with more than 2,100 dead. Additionally, kidnappings more than doubled last year, with more than 1,350 victims. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-38684-haiti-security-homicides-+352-kidnappings-+1047.html

HL/ HaitiLibre