PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will travel to Haiti next week in a show of solidarity with victims of escalating gang violence that has plunged the Caribbean nation into a deep humanitarian and security crisis.
UN spokesperson Farhan Haq announced on Monday that Guterres is scheduled to visit Haiti on June 16, where he will meet people directly affected by the violence that has disrupted daily life across large parts of the country.
“This will be a solidarity visit, during which he will meet men, women, and children whose lives have been affected by violence,” Haq told reporters.
The visit comes as Haiti continues to grapple with worsening insecurity driven by heavily armed gangs that control significant areas of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and other parts of the country. The violence has displaced thousands of families, disrupted essential services and deepened an already severe humanitarian emergency.
According to the United Nations, the Secretary-General will use the trip to assess the situation firsthand and engage with both national authorities and international partners working to stabilise the country.
“He will see firsthand the humanitarian and security challenges facing the country, as well as efforts by national authorities and the international community to restore stability and support the Haitian people,” Haq said.
During the visit, Guterres is expected to hold talks with Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé as discussions continue on strengthening security measures and addressing the country’s growing humanitarian needs.
