United Nations, July 8 (RHC)-- Members of the United Nations Security Council , have voiced support for deploying a multinational armed force to Haiti.  The meeting follows a trip to Haiti by U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, who appealed for the international community to “act now” on Haiti.

Secretary-General António Guterres said: “Predatory gangs are using kidnappings and sexual violence as weapons to terrorize entire communities.  And I have heard appalling accounts of women and girls being gang-raped and of people being burned alive. … We are not calling for a military or political mission of the United Nations.  We are calling for a robust security force deployed by member states to work hand in hand with the Haitian National Police to defeat and dismantle the gangs and restore security across the country.”

Haitian officials have requested the international force, but many in Haiti have opposed such a presence due to the disastrous history of U.N. and foreign interventions in the country.

This all comes as Haiti today marks two years since the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse.  A Haitian government watchdog released a letter yesterday slamming the lack of accountability and the stalled investigation of the killing, reinforcing a culture of impunity and corruption that has endangered all Haitians.