Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille stated on Wednesday that the Caribbean nation is still far from winning its battle against armed groups who control the majority of the capital. A deadline set by the United Nations for the long-delayed assistance fast approaches.

Conille, at an event held on the sidelines the United Nations General Assembly, said: "We're nowhere near winning it and the simple truth is that we can't win this without your help."

"There's a sense that there is urgency, because the Haitian population is watching with cautious optimism and they really hope to see clear results."

Conille, Haiti's Minister of Finance, said that the country is facing a crisis due to a gang-related attack on the main port in the capital, which is the primary entry point for goods and funding.

This week, a shipping official reported that shots were fired at ships, preventing them to dock and unload containers. Authorities also reported the kidnapping two Filipino crew from a cargo ship in the port.

Haiti's major seaports and airport international were closed for almost three months in early this year, after violence escalated towards the end of February.

Conille said, "We are concerned that without everyone's urgent support for this effort, we may lose the small success we have been able achieve at a high price."

U.S. Secretary Antony Blinken announced earlier sanctions against former deputy Prophane Victoire and gang leader Luckson Elan, for their roles in human rights violations, as well $160 million of assistance for Haiti and called for continued support of the U.N. backed international security mission.

Around 10 countries have pledged more than 3,100 troops but only 400 have been deployed. The U.N.'s one-year mission expires in early October, and the Security Council will vote on Sept. 30, whether it should be renewed.

Despite pledges of hundreds of millions, the U.N. Mission Trust Fund and Humanitarian Plan remain severely underfunded.

Musalia Mudavadi is the official in Kenya who leads the mission. He said that the funds available are not sufficient to support the current deployment, let alone the thousands promised.

He said: "We urge all countries who have pledged to send troops to act quickly."

According to U.N. estimations, the number of internally displaced people has now exceeded 700,000. According to U.N. estimates, the number of internally displaced people has nearly doubled in the last six months and now exceeds 700,000.

(source: Reuters)