The United Nations has warned that Haiti’s security and humanitarian crisis remains severe, as armed gangs continue to challenge state authority and fuel instability across the country.
Addressing the UN Security Council on Monday (19 Oct), Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti, said that “widespread insecurity persists”, undermining efforts to restore state authority and disrupting the daily lives of Haitians.
Ruiz Massieu reported that more than 1,000 people were killed and over 100 kidnapping victims were recorded between July and September 2026. Renewed violence has displaced more than 17,000 people, bringing the total number of internally displaced people close to 1.5 million, including around half children.
He also warned that Haiti’s economy is expected to contract for a seventh consecutive year in 2026, while humanitarian needs continue to exceed available resources.
“The Haitian people continue to demonstrate remarkable resilience,” Ruiz Massieu said, urging international partners to sustain support for security operations, justice initiatives and efforts to restore democratic institutions.
The UN assessment highlights that Haiti’s path towards stability will depend on balancing security operations with credible political progress and institutional reform. While electoral preparations have advanced significantly, including the registration of political parties and thousands of candidates, uncertainty remains over the timing and feasibility of elections due to ongoing insecurity and logistical challenges.
The transition towards democratically elected institutions will require public confidence in the electoral process, stronger rule of law, and continued international support. Geopolitically, Haiti remains a test of international efforts to stabilise a fragile state in the Caribbean, where regional partners and global actors are seeking to prevent further deterioration while supporting Haitian-led solutions.
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