Security Council Renews UN's Haiti Mission Amid Spiralling Crises
By adopting resolution 2785, the Council renewed the authorization of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), reaffirming support for a Haitian-led solution to the island nation's overlapping crises.
The decision comes as armed gangs maintain their grip on most of the capital, Port-au-Prince, with over 1.3 million people displaced and more than 4,000 killed in the first half of 2025 alone, according to UN figures.
Conditions have deteriorated dramatically amid growing food insecurity and the erosion of public institutions. Of particular concern is the safety of women and girls, with a sharp rise in reports of sexual violence since the start of the year – including rape, gang rape, and sexual enslavement.
Time is running out
The Security Council also 'expressed its intention to consider, without delay' the recommendations by the Secretary-General on possible future roles for the UN in sustaining security and stability in Haiti.
In February, António Guterres presented the Council with a range of options.
' Each new wave of criminal attacks against the communities and institutions of Haiti is a distressing sign that time is running out,' the UN chief said in a letter.
He urged Member States to support the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, which the Council authorized in October 2023 to assist Haiti's national police in tackling gang violence and restoring order. He also emphasized that international efforts to improve security must be matched by national progress toward resolving the political crisis.
Several Council members voiced willingness to engage on the Secretary-General's proposals. The Chinese representative, for instance, said Beijing was open to working with others to chart a constructive way forward.
'With regard to how to improve the situation in Haiti, including how to respond to the Secretary-General's recommendations, we are ready to have candid communication with all parties, explore viable solutions and seek the broadest possible consensus,' said Geng Shuang, Deputy Permanent Representative of China to the UN.
Mission critical
The Council's action was welcomed by Haiti's Ambassador, who underscored the political and security stakes ahead of a critical 2026 transition timeline.
' This extension should help Haitian authorities undertake a real, genuine political dialogue, to strengthen good governance, bolster security and bring about justice and promote human rights,' said Pierre Ericq Pierre, Permanent Representative to the UN.
He also expressed his Government's expectation that the UN mission will support implementation of the national roadmap, including constitutional reforms and elections.
Emphasizing national ownership, he added: 'BINUH must work as part of a holistic plan to support Haitian authorities in confronting the grave crisis shaking the country to its core.'
The United States, which led negotiations on the resolution alongside Panama, stressed the urgency of political progress and called on international partners to increase support.
'Less than one year remains on the Transitional Presidential Council's planned roadmap for the restoration of democratic institutions,' said Ambassador Dorothy Shea, acting representative.
' Supporting the security of elections and the participation of all sectors of society is key to sustainable political progress in Haiti. Without BINUH, realizing the vision of a stronger, more resilient society would be less likely. '
New mission leadership
Council members also welcomed Carlos G. Ruiz Massieu, appointed as the new Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of BINUH, succeeding María Isabel Salvador.
Mr. Ruiz Massieu, who currently leads the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, brings decades of diplomatic and political experience, including in peace negotiations and institution-building.
The UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) – a special political mission – was established in 2019 to advise and support Haitian authorities on political dialogue, justice, human rights and governance.
It succeeded a series of UN peacekeeping and political missions on the island, dating back to 1993, including the large-scale MINUSTAH operation, which wrapped up in 2017 after 13 years.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
2 hours ago
- Scoop
‘Perfect Storm' Of Global Crises Drove Years Of Food Price Surges: FAO
22 July 2025 The report, to be released later this month, reveals how between 2020 and 2024, the world experienced a dramatic increase in food prices driven by a combination of COVID-19 inflation, the war in Ukraine restricting movements on food and commodities, and increasing climate shocks. 'The episodes described in this publication bring up what we call a perfect storm,' said Mr. Torero Cullen. Máximo Torero Cullen speaks to journalists at the UN HQs via video link. First, he explained that during the COVID-19 pandemic, governments launched fiscal stimulus and relief packages, which increased demand and, thus, global inflation. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine compounded this crisis. Before the war began in 2022, Ukraine was a key exporter of wheat, sunflower oil and fertilisers. The war not only restricted these exports but disrupted trade routes and pushed up fuel and input costs, which amplified inflation across the world. Additionally, increasingly frequent and intense climate shocks in major producing regions – such as droughts, floods and heat waves – further aggravated food inflation. Worldwide impacts Only in 2024 did prices return to pre-COVID levels, meaning that households struggled for multiple years to afford food, with major consequences. As real wages fell while food prices increased, household purchasing power was eroded. Households responded by buying cheaper and less nutritious food, reducing meal frequency, and often prioritising meals for certain family members and reducing intake for women and children. Mr. Torero Cullen also explained that an increase in food prices directly correlates to an increase in moderate and severe food insecurity. The impacts of this were particularly harsh in Africa and Western Asia, where food imports, dependence and currency depreciation made food even more expensive. Moreover, as food prices increased, nutrition outcomes among children under five worsened. The SOFI report illustrated that a 10 per cent food price increase led to a 2.7 to 6.1 per cent increase in moderate to severe wasting, which has long-lasting effects on child development and public health systems. Notably, these grave impacts were uneven, mostly affecting low-income and African countries – many of which are still seeing worsening figures. During the peak of the crisis in January 2023, some low-income countries experienced food price inflation of up to 30 per cent, compared to 13.6 per cent globally. Policy recommendations Mr. Torero Cullen finished his briefing by outlining the policy prescriptions detailed in the SOFI report. He first underscored targeted fiscal support. 'Social protection measures are the most effective response to food price spikes,' he explained. 'This will protect vulnerable populations without creating long-term fiscal risk or market distortions.' He also highlighted avoiding trade disruptions, coordinating monetary and fiscal policies, improving market transparency, and institutional preparedness as essential components for avoiding future crises. 'This SOFI underscores that inflation can undermine progress. It underlines our vulnerabilities, and it also brings the importance of strengthening resilience, inclusiveness and transparency to be able to avoid and minimize the risk of these problems,' he concluded.
Scoop
4 hours ago
- Scoop
UN's Guterres Declares Fossil Fuel Era Fading; Presses Nations For New Climate Plans Before COP30 Summit
22 July 2025 In a special address at UN Headquarters in New York, Mr. Guterres cited surging clean energy investment and plunging solar and wind costs that now outcompete fossil fuels. ' The energy transition is unstoppable, but the transition is not yet fast enough or fair enough, ' he said. The speech, A Moment of Opportunity: Supercharging the Clean Energy Age – a followup to last year's Moment of Truth – was delivered alongside a new UN technical report drawing on global energy and finance bodies. 'Just follow the money,' Mr. Guterres said, noting that $2 trillion flowed into clean energy last year, $800 billion more than fossil fuels and up almost 70 per cent in a decade. Key points from the address Point of no return – The world has irreversibly shifted towards renewables, with fossil fuels entering their decline Clean energy surge – $2 trillion invested in clean energy last year, $800 billion more than fossil fuels Cost revolution – Solar now 41 per cent cheaper and offshore wind 53 per cent cheaper than fossil fuel alternatives. Global challenge – Calls on G20 nations to align new national climate plans with the 1.5°C target of the Paris Agreement Energy security – Renewables ensure 'real energy sovereignty' Six opportunity areas – Climate plan ambition, modern grids, sustainable demand, just transition, trade reform, and finance for emerging markets. A shift in possibility He noted new data from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) showing solar, once four times costlier, is now 41 per cent cheaper than fossil fuels. Similarly, offshore wind is 53 per cent cheaper, with more than 90 per cent of new renewables worldwide beating the cheapest new fossil alternative. ' This is not just a shift in power. It is a shift in possibility,' he said. Renewables nearly match fossil fuels in global installed power capacity, and 'almost all the new power capacity built' last year came from renewables, he said, noting that every continent added more clean power than fossil fuels. Clean energy is unstoppable Mr. Guterres underscored that a clean energy future 'is no longer a promise, it is a fact'. No government, no industry and no special interest can stop it. ' Of course, the fossil fuel lobby will try, and we know the lengths to which they will go. But, I have never been more confident that they will fail because we have passed the point of no return. ' He urged countries to lock ambition into the next round of national climate plans, or NDCs, due within months. Mr. Guterres called on the G20 countries, which are responsible for 80 per cent of emissions, to submit new plans aligned with the 1.5°C limit and present them at a highlevel event in September. Targets, he added, must 'double energy efficiency and triple renewables capacity by 2030' while accelerating 'the transition away from fossil fuels'. Real energy sovereignty The Secretary-General also highlighted the geopolitical risks of fossil fuel dependence. 'The greatest threat to energy security today is fossil fuels,' he said, citing price shocks after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. ' There are no price spikes for sunlight, no embargoes on wind. Renewables mean real energy security, real energy sovereignty and real freedom from fossil-fuel volatility. ' Six opportunity areas Mr. Guterres mapped six 'opportunity areas' to speed the transition: ambitious NDCs, modern grids and storage, meeting soaring demand sustainably, a just transition for workers and communities, trade reforms to broaden cleantech supply chains, and mobilising finance to emerging markets. Financing, however, is the choke point. Africa, home to 60 per cent of the world's best solar resources, received just 2 per cent of global clean energy investment last year, he said. Only one in five clean energy dollars over the past decade went to emerging and developing economies outside China. Flows must rise more than five-fold by 2030 to keep the 1.5-degree limit alive and deliver universal access. Mr. Guterres urged reform of global finance, stronger multilateral development banks and debt relief, including debtforclimate swaps. ' The fossil fuel age is flailing and failing. We are in the dawn of a new energy era,' he said in closing. ' That world is within reach, but it won't happen on its own. Not fast enough. Not fair enough. It is up to us. This is our moment of opportunity. '
Scoop
5 hours ago
- Scoop
‘Peace Is A Choice': UN Chief Urges Diplomacy As Wars Spread From Gaza To Ukraine
22 July 2025 This is the only sustainable path to global security, he told ministers at a high-level open debate of the Security Council on Tuesday. The Secretary-General emphasised that the UN Charter 's tools – negotiation, mediation, conciliation, arbitration and more – remain a lifeline when tensions escalate, grievances fester and states lose trust in each other. These tools are needed now more than ever, he stressed, as conflicts rage and international law is violated with impunity. ' The cost is staggering – measured in human lives, shattered communities and lost futures. We need look no further than the horror show in Gaza – with a level of death and destruction without parallel in recent times.' The risk of starvation looms and aid operations are being denied the space and safety to function. UN premises, such as the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the World Health Organization (WHO)'s main warehouse, have been hit despite parties being notified of their locations. 'These premises are inviolable and must be protected under international humanitarian law – without exception,' Mr. Guterres reiterated. Peace is a choice – make it From Gaza to Ukraine, from the Sahel to Sudan, Haiti and Myanmar, 'conflict is raging, international law is being trampled, and hunger and displacement are at record levels,' he continued, adding that terrorism, violent extremism and transnational crime also remain 'persistent scourges' pushing security further out of reach. ' Peace is a choice. And the world expects the Security Council to help countries make this choice. ' Mr. Guterres pointed to the UN Charter's bedrock obligation in Article 2.3 that 'all Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means', and to Chapter VI, which empowers the Security Council to support 'negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, resort to regional agencies or arrangements, or other peaceful means of their own choice.' Action 16 of last year's Pact for the Future urges states to recommit to preventive diplomacy, he said, commending Pakistan – the Council President for July – for tabling a resolution encouraging fuller use of those tools, which was adopted unanimously at the meeting. P5 must overcome divisions Security Council members – 'in particular its permanent members' – must overcome divisions, the Secretary-General said, reminding them that even during the Cold War, Council dialogue underpinned peacekeeping missions and humanitarian access, and helped prevent a third world war. He urged members to keep channels open, build consensus and make the body 'more representative' of today's geopolitical realities with more inclusive, transparent and accountable working methods. Mr. Guterres also urged deeper cooperation with regional and subregional organizations. Mediation can work even amid war, he said, noting the third anniversary of the Black Sea Initiative and a related memorandum with Russia that enabled grain movements during the conflict in Ukraine. Renew commitment to multilateralism States must honour their obligations under the Charter; international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, and the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence, Mr. Guterres said. ' As we mark the 80th anniversary of our Organization and the Charter that gave it life and shape, we need to renew our commitment to the multilateral spirit of peace through diplomacy,' he said. ' I look forward to working with you to achieve the international peace and security the people of the world need and deserve. ' Security Council open debate A signature event of the Pakistani presidency, Tuesday's open debate was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar. The session aimed to assess the effectiveness of existing mechanisms for pacific dispute settlement, examine best practices and explore new strategies for tackling protracted conflicts. It also sought to enhance cooperation with regional organizations, boost capacity-building and resource mobilisation, and align future efforts with the conflict-prevention vision outlined in the Pact for the Future.
