The Haitian National Police confirmed the arrival of 75 Guatemalan soldiers and eight Salvadoran troops in a statement on Friday, December 3, 2024.

The forces are joining the ongoing efforts to restore law and order in Haiti, where gang violence has ravaged the country for years.

Kenyan police patrol an area near the international airport as a man holds a sign with a welcome message and a plea for jobs, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on July 3, 2024.

A second contingent of 75 Guatemalan soldiers is also expected to arrive soon, further strengthening the deployment and supporting the Haitian National Police’s efforts to tackle the criminal gangs wreaking havoc across the nation.

The MSS mission, authorized by the United Nations Security Council in October 2023, has been tasked with assisting the Haitian government in re-establishing security amidst growing unrest and gang-related violence.

Kenya, leading the mission, initially deployed 400 police officers to Haiti in June 2024.

The UN extended the mission’s mandate until October 2025 in a unanimous decision made in September 2024, amid warnings from experts and the Haitian government about the dire situation.

In a recent investigative report, the UN offices in Haiti documented a massacre in Port-au-Prince by the Wharf Jérémie gang, with at least 207 executions recorded between December 6 and 11, 2024.

People carrying their belongings flee their homes from gang violence in Port-au-Prince, Haiti on October 26, 2024.

With over 5,350 people killed in 2024 alone and 17,000 dead or injured since the gang’s rise in 2022, the UN highlighted the urgent need for international intervention.

Recent reports indicate that more than 700,000 people have been forced to flee their homes due to gang violence and insecurity. The number has been steadily increasing, with a significant rise between 2022 and 2023.

It is estimated that 2.7 million Haitians, including 1.6 million women and children, live in areas under gang control. The residents face daily threats of violence, extortion, and restrictions on their movement.

Guatemala and El Salvador have sent troops to Haiti to reinforce the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, aimed at combating the country’s escalating gang violence.