In a statement, Guterres’ spokesman’s office said that other countries have expressed interest, including publicly, but have not yet notified the secretary-general of their intention. The international security support mission for Haiti, approved by the UN Security Council in October to support local police in combating organized crime gangs, currently has $18 million (€16.8 million) in a trust fund. According to Guterres’ spokesman, of that total, $8.7 million was provided by Canada, $3.2 million by France and $6 million by the United States. “We are grateful to all those who have contributed and urge all member states to ensure that the mission receives the financial and logistical support it needs to succeed,” the UN said. The first quarter of 2024 was the most violent in Haiti, a Caribbean country ravaged by gangs, since at least the beginning of 2022, with at least 1,660 homicides, 50% more than in the last quarter of 2023. “Between January and March 2024, at least 2,505 people were killed or injured as a result of gang-related violence,” according to a quarterly report by the UN mission in Haiti (Binuh), released last week. “This represents an increase of over 53% compared to the previous period (October-December 2023), making the first three months of 2024 the most violent period since Binuh established its human rights monitoring mechanism in early 2022,” it added. Haiti has been ravaged for decades by poverty, natural disasters, political instability and worsening gang violence. Since the end of February, powerful Haitian gangs have joined forces to attack police stations, prisons, the airport and the seaport in an effort to oust Prime Minister Ariel Henry. He resigned on March 11 and a Transitional Presidential Council was created this month, but the crisis is not over. Since the end of February, “more than 4,600 detainees escaped from the two main prisons in the capital, at least 22 police stations and sub-stations and other police buildings were looted or burned, and 19 police officers were killed or injured,” the UN said. Gangs have also continued to use sexual violence against residents of rival neighborhoods, the UN mission said in the report, denouncing in particular the gang rapes of young girls. “Gang activities have severely limited access to essential services, including health care and education, and have exacerbated food insecurity,” said Maria Isabel Salvador, head of the UN mission, quoted in a statement in which she called for the acceleration of the deployment of the international security mission to be led by Kenya. Read Also: Guterres welcomes the inauguration of the Presidential Transitional Council in Haiti (Portuguese version)