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El Salvador deploys 2,000 troops to Haiti amid security crisis

El Salvador is sending over 2,000 military personnel to Haiti to assist in rescue operations and support efforts against criminal gangs. The deployment comes as Haiti postpones presidential elections for a second time due to deteriorating security conditions.

LSN Malaysia · 29 October 2026

El Salvador deploys 2,000 troops to Haiti amid security crisis

El Salvador's government has announced plans to deploy more than 2,000 soldiers to Haiti as part of a broader international response to the Caribbean nation's escalating security crisis. The contingent will focus on rescue and humanitarian operations while bolstering local efforts to counter gang violence that has gripped the country.

The military deployment represents a significant commitment from El Salvador, which itself has struggled with gang-related violence in recent years. The troops are expected to work alongside Haitian authorities and other international partners in addressing the humanitarian emergency stemming from criminal gang activities that have displaced thousands of civilians and paralysed basic services.

Haiti's government announced this week that it would postpone presidential elections for the second time, citing ongoing security concerns that make it impossible to conduct credible polling. Gang violence has intensified dramatically over recent months, with armed groups controlling significant portions of the capital Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas.

The international community has expressed growing alarm over Haiti's deteriorating situation. El Salvador's deployment follows calls for increased support from regional and global partners to restore stability and allow for democratic processes to resume in the impoverished nation.