“António Guterres is deeply concerned about the current situation in Haiti, where civil unrest has brought the country to a standstill,” said Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General. “The Secretary General is particularly concerned about the security of all Haitians, including the most vulnerable, and calls for calm and restraint,” he said.

During a press conference at United Nations Headquarters in New York, he noted that “Guterres calls on all relevant stakeholders to take immediate steps to de-escalate the situation, prevent violence and allow the national police to fulfill their role of protecting the population.” and also called on all concerned to rise above their differences and engage in peaceful dialogue.”

For several weeks, demonstrations have been held in several cities in Haiti, with the participation of tens of thousands of citizens protesting against the spread of crime, high prices and inflation, which has reached its highest level in 10 years.

The country’s fuel reserves have dwindled due to difficulties in obtaining foreign exchange from the central bank.