Pakistan demands action after brutal Haiti gang massacre claims 47 lives

Pakistan urged the UN Security Council to swiftly deploy international assistance to Haiti following a savage gang massacre that left at least 47 people dead, including children hiding in a church. Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan's permanent representative to the UN, lamented the long-standing security challenges in Haiti, emphasizing the devastating impact of gang violence on civilians, particularly women and children.

In September 2025, the Security Council authorized a multinational Gang Suppression Force (GSF) to replace the Kenyan-led mission, tasked with combating the escalating violence. The Pakistani envoy stressed the urgency of overcoming logistical hurdles that GSF faces in fully deploying its security operations, stating that prompt deployment with adequate resources is vital to deter gangs and restore public safety.

Ambassador Ahmad reiterated the need to halt the influx of illegal weapons into Haiti, asserting that a sustainable solution demands tackling the diverse factors contributing to instability, including a Haitian-led response tailored to the country's specific circumstances. Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), condemned the gang attack in Kenscoff, a commune near Port-au-Prince, where homes were set ablaze, and innocent people, including those seeking refuge in a church, were targeted.

He demanded the immediate release of all abducted individuals. BINUH reported 1,408 fatalities and 656 injuries between April and June 2026 alone. Massieu praised the enhanced coordination among the Haitian National Police, Armed Forces, and GSF, urging the rapid and complete deployment of the force. However, he highlighted that security operations must be complemented by efforts to restore state authority, restore essential services, schools, and health facilities, and create pathways for young people to break free from gang influence.

Massieu called for accountability against those who orchestrate, finance, arm, and enable gang violence, stressing that international commitments must now yield tangible outcomes.