Dominican Republic Helps Ship 525 Tons of UN Military Equipment to Haiti
A 525-ton shipment of UN military equipment left the Port of Haina bound for Haiti amid the security crisis in that country.
Key points
- The 525-ton shipment left the Port of Haina on Sunday, November 1, 2026.
- The equipment came from Bangladesh and was funded by Germany.
- It will be used by the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), which plans for 5,500 soldiers and 50 civilian staff but remains below that target.
- Four Salvadoran soldiers have been missing in Haiti since October 18.
Some 525 tons of military equipment meant for the international mission against gangs in Haiti left the Port of Haina in the Dominican Republic on Sunday, November 1, 2026. According to the Dominican Foreign Ministry, the country provided logistical support for the shipment.
The material came from Bangladesh and was funded by Germany. It includes containers, vehicles and other military equipment, according to UN Assistant Secretary-General Daniela Kroslak, who thanked Dominican authorities for facilitating the operation.
The equipment will be used by the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), authorized by the UN Security Council to support security in Haiti, where gangs control large areas and are responsible for killings, kidnappings, sexual violence and the recruitment of minors. The force plans for 5,500 soldiers and 50 civilian staff, but its deployment remains below that target due to a lack of contributions from participating countries.
According to the Foreign Ministry, the shipment weighs 525 tons, though it did not say how many vehicles it contains or when it will begin to be used in Haiti. It also did not specify which units will receive it.
The shipment coincides with the search for four Salvadoran soldiers missing since October 18, after an ambush attributed to a gang. Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele ordered the deployment of more than 2,000 military personnel to find them. The sources do not confirm an operational link between the two events.
In September, the UN Security Council extended the mission's mandate for six months.
Why it matters
For Dominicans in the Dominican Republic and the United States, the country is serving as a logistics hub for the international response to its neighbor Haiti's security crisis.