On the humanitarian and security situation in Haiti, in particular the rising power of criminal gangs and the recent massacre in Cabaret

B100434/2025

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the humanitarian and security situation in Haiti, in particular the rising power of criminal gangs and the recent massacre in Cabaret

(2025/2905(RSP))

The European Parliament,

− having regard to Rule 150(5) of its Rules of Procedure

whereas on 11 September, armed gangs in the Cabaret commune of Haiti’s West Department killed more than 40 people;

whereas, since President Jovenel Moïse’s assassination in July 2021, gangs have dramatically expanded their power, and have plunged Haitians into a chronic state of insecurity, including by killing and kidnapping people, looting and burning homes and public buildings, targeting and exploiting children, and committing sexual violence;

whereas more than 16,000 people have been killed in armed violence since 2022; whereas law enforcement accounts for more than half of killings and injuries in 2025; whereas the government has stepped up its use of explosive drones, leading to hundreds of deaths;

whereas the humanitarian situation in Haiti is dire, with over 1.3 million people displaced and half of the population facing food insecurity; whereas gang violence has restricted humanitarian access; whereas the UN’s Humanitarian Response Plan is only eight percent funded;

whereas the healthcare system is collapsing, and the closure of schools has deprived 1.2 million children of education;

whereas shortfalls in personnel, funding and equipment have severely limited the ability of the UN-authorised Multinational Security Support mission; whereas on 30 September 2025, the UN Security Council approved the much larger Gang Suppression Force to tackle gang violence;

whereas, in 2024, nearly 200,000 people were deported to Haiti;

Strongly condemns the brutal attack by armed gangs in the Cabaret commune;

Expresses its deepest concerns over the alarming escalation of violence and widespread human rights abuses, as well as the paralysis of Haiti’s political institutions;

Welcomes the authorisation of the new Gang Suppression Force; calls for urgently ensuring that it is properly staffed, funded, and equipped to fulfil its mandate, including to secure humanitarian access, with robust human rights and accountability safeguards; urges Member States to expedite efforts; stresses that security efforts must go hand-in-hand with humanitarian and development investments;

Calls on the Haitian authorities to create the conditions for a lasting peace, involving civil society and implementing social programmes, to end impunity and ensure that all criminals, including political leaders and economic elites, are brought to justice; and to operationalise and support the specialised judicial units to investigate mass crimes;

Calls on the EU and its Member States to continue to adopt sanctions against those engaged in gang violence, criminal activities, or human rights abuses;

Deeply regrets reductions in humanitarian aid and UN funding; calls on the Commission and the Member States to urgently increase support and funding to address acute humanitarian needs, including food, health care, protection for victims, assistance for displaced persons, and reintegration of deportees, and to support hurricane preparedness.

Expresses grave concern regarding the situation of Haitian asylum seekers; urges authorities in host countries to halt all expulsions and deportations to Haiti;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the HRVP, the Cariforum institutions, and the Haitian authorities.