Statement of Latvia at the emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on the situation in Haiti
New York, 28 August 2026
Thank you, Madam President.
We thank SRSG Carlos Ruiz Massieu and the acting ASG for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator Indrika Ratwatte for their comprehensive briefings. We welcome the representatives of Haiti, Brazil, Mexico and Argentina to this meeting.
Madam President,
During the previous Council meetings on Haiti there was a growing sense of shared recognition of the opportunity to bring the security situation in Haiti under greater control and create conditions for the path towards holding elections, notwithstanding the significant remaining risks.
The massacre in Kenscoff perpetuated by gangs during the night from 23 to 24 of August, however, serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of security situation in Haiti, how quickly setbacks can emerge, and how easily progress can be undermined. These developments underscore the importance of maintaining Haiti firmly on international agenda, sustaining our collective engagement, and continuing to support efforts that can translate the current momentum into tangible and lasting progress for the Haitian people.
We strongly condemn the cruel gang attacks in Kenscoff that claimed lives, injured civilians and further traumatized communities, thereby undermining security and stability in Haiti. We express our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of Kenscoff and demand immediate release of all the hostages held by the gangs.
Madam President,
We reaffirm our full support for the continued and rapid deployment of the Gang Suppression Force, for its mandate and for its courageous personnel who carry out the daily mission of restoring security in Haiti under extremely complicated and rapidly changing circumstances on the ground.
At the same time, security cannot be sustained through international support alone. We emphasize that the primary responsibility for the security and protection of the Haitian people rests with the Haitian authorities. At previous meetings of this Council, Haitian leadership expressed a strong commitment to restoring order, security, justice and democratic governance in Haiti. We urge the Haitian government to fulfill its human rights responsibilities, including reinforcement of the national security strategy and responding in a timely manner to early warning signs of possible gang attacks on civilians.
Full transparency and effective coordination between all national and international stakeholders participating in efforts to combat insecurity are required at all times, to ensure that communities like Kenscoff are not left vulnerable to the armed groups again.
Madam President,
We also emphasize that security efforts must be continuously accompanied by justice and accountability. We encourage the Haitian authorities to accelerate without delay, the full operationalization of the two specialized judicial poles inaugurated to identify, prosecute, and hold the perpetrators of the brutal mass crimes, such as those committed in Kenscoff, accountable, in accordance with Haitian national and international law.
We reiterate that as long as such enablers of the gang violence as corruption and illicit financial flows continue to go unpunished and weaken the State’s effective response to gang violence, the gains achieved through security efforts will not be long lasting.
Finally, at this critical moment, we call upon all Haitian stakeholders to place the interests of the Haitian people above political divisions and personal interests, and to work collectively towards a future in which security, justice, democratic governance, and accountability reinforce one another. The Haitian people deserve nothing less.
I thank you.