Amid criticisms, US lacks a 'clear strategy' to address record gang violence in Haiti.

At least 5,600 people were killed by gangs in Haiti last year, according to a new United Nations report. The report from the Office of the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights also stated that an additional 3,700 people were injured or abducted, prompting criticism of the Biden administration for not doing enough.

According to Andrés Martínez-Fernández, senior policy analyst for Latin America at The Heritage Foundation, the Biden administration's response to the crisis has been piecemeal and politicized, with the focus being on preventing it from escalating before the elections rather than resolving it.

The State Department spokesperson informed Planet Chronicle Digital that Biden allocated $629 million in financial and equipment support to Haiti, with $600 million already committed, while Ukraine received more than $113 billion from Congress.

Martínez-Fernández stated that the issue in both Ukraine and Haiti is that our involvement lacks a clear strategy, despite our efforts.

In a gruesome event that took place in Port-au-Prince in early December, the Wharf Jérémie gang brutally murdered at least 207 people. The victims, many of whom were elderly, were falsely accused of using voodoo to harm the gang leader's son. Their bodies were disfigured, set on fire, and some were thrown into the sea.

A recent VOA report indicates that gangs control approximately 85% of the capital.

Volker Türk, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated that while these figures do not fully convey the absolute horrors happening in Haiti, they demonstrate the persistent violence that individuals are enduring.

The urgent need to restore the rule of law in Haiti was emphasized by Türk. He urged for strong logistical and financial support for the U.N.-supported Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) to enable it to execute its mandate effectively.

Despite the MSS's commitment to deploy over 2,500 personnel from various countries, only approximately 500 have been sent to the country so far. A BBC report indicates that many of these personnel have not been paid for several months and are significantly outnumbered by the 12,000 gang members currently operating in the country.

Although the State Department defended its record, it acknowledged that more needs to be done to address the surge in violence, as seen in the joint operation on Dec. 15 by MSS and Haitian police that resulted in the death of a high-profile gang leader.

"The spokesperson stated that the current personnel levels are inadequate to restore law and order in Haiti. Nevertheless, the United States supports the Haitian-led initiative to transition the MSS mission to a UNPKO."

Martínez-Fernández stated that it is unlikely to occur due to significant challenges in feasibility, mainly because of the lack of approval in the Security Council. China, specifically, has strongly opposed such efforts and I expect them to continue to veto them.

The U.N. report saw Türk reiterate his demand for the Security Council to enforce sanctions on Haiti and uphold the arms embargo to halt the influx of weapons into the country.

"The influx of weapons into Haiti frequently results in the criminal gangs gaining possession of them, leading to devastating consequences: numerous fatalities, massive displacement of people, and the destruction of vital institutions such as schools and hospitals."