Nearly 200,000 people have been forcibly returned to Haiti during the first eight months of 2026, according to a United Nations official who addressed an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Friday.
The figure is at least 20,000 higher than the number recorded during the same period last year, as Haiti continues to struggle with widespread gang violence and insecurity.
The UN briefing came days after a deadly gang attack in Kenscoff, a hillside community near the capital, Port-au-Prince. The attack left 47 people dead, including three boys and two girls. Houses were reportedly set on fire, while people attempting to escape were attacked inside a church.
The incident occurred shortly after Haiti received its first US deportation flight since the Trump administration won a legal battle that ended Temporary Protected Status for about 350,000 Haitians. Another flight carrying migrants from the United States and the Bahamas arrived on Thursday.
Security analysts have also warned that the continued flow of illegal firearms into Haiti is worsening the conflict. The United Nations estimates that most of the guns entering the country originate in the southeastern United States, with many reportedly trafficked through the land border with the Dominican Republic.
The violence has killed more than 21,000 people since 2022, according to UN estimates cited by Reuters.
UN officials warned that the worsening security situation could threaten preparations for Haiti's first elections in a decade, which are expected to take place later this year.
UN-Backed Security Force Faces Uncertainty
Diplomats at the Security Council called for a faster expansion of the UN-backed Gang Suppression Force (GSF), which was established to support Haitian police in their fight against powerful armed groups.
The force aims to reach a strength of 5,500 personnel by the autumn, while the Security Council is expected to decide at the end of September whether to renew its mandate.
The United States urged countries to provide additional personnel and resources to the force, arguing that the recent attack demonstrated the urgent need for stronger international security support.
Haiti's government said Chad, Mongolia and Ivory Coast had agreed to support the force, while discussions were also ongoing with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Jamaica and Guatemala.
The UN has warned that without significant improvements in security, Haiti's efforts to restore political stability and hold elections remain highly vulnerable to further setbacks.
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