Haiti gets armoured vehicles from US, Canada to fight gangs

US and Canadian military aircraft have delivered tactical and armoured vehicles and other supplies to the Haitian National Police (HNP) to help combat criminal gangs that have worsened a humanitarian crisis in Haiti.

"This equipment will assist the HNP in their fight against criminal actors who are fomenting violence and disrupting the flow of critically needed humanitarian assistance, hindering efforts to halt the spread of cholera," the US and Canadian governments said in a joint statement on Saturday.

Haitians are experiencing catastrophic hunger because of gangsters blockading a major fuel terminal, UN officials said on Friday, with more than four  million facing acute food insecurity.

A coalition of gangs has prevented the distribution of diesel and gasoline for over a month to protest a plan to cut fuel subsidies.

Most transport is halted, with looting and gang shootouts becoming increasingly common.

READ MORE: US to help Haiti police counter gangs but won't deploy troops

UN considers sanctions

The UN Security Council is considering creating a sanctions regime to impose an asset freeze, travel ban and arms embargo on anyone who threatens the peace, security or stability of Haiti, according to a draft resolution seen by the Reuters news agency on Thursday.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has proposed that one or several countries send "a rapid action force" to help Haiti's police remove a threat posed by the gangs, according to a letter to the Security Council, seen by Reuters.

The US and Mexico-drafted resolution would take note of Guterres' letter and encourage "the immediate deployment of a multinational rapid action force to support the HNP, as recommended in the Secretary-General's letter."

The 15-member Security Council could vote as early as Monday on the draft resolution, diplomats said. To be adopted a resolution needs nine votes in favour and no vetoes by permanent members Russia, China, the United States, France or Britain.

READ MORE: Report: UN mulls sanctions against Haiti gang chief 'Barbecue', others