United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres will visit Haiti on Tuesday to express solidarity with the people suffering from ongoing gang violence. According to his office, this will be his first visit to the Caribbean nation since July 2023. During the trip, Guterres will meet men, women, and children affected by the violence and assess the country’s humanitarian and security conditions. He will also review national and international efforts to restore stability and support the Haitian population.

Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, has faced years of political, economic, and security turmoil. Armed groups continue to commit killings, rapes, looting, and kidnappings. The UN reports that about 1.5 million people are displaced and over 5 million face acute food insecurity. The security crisis worsened in early 2024, forcing the resignation of the unelected prime minister and the appointment of interim leadership.

Guterres will also evaluate UN support for the newly authorized international force to combat gangs and meet Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé. The UN human rights chief has urged urgent deployment of the force and action against impunity.