The new multinational force to combat gangs in Haiti will be deployed in “phases” over the coming months, Special Representative Jack Christofides said on Thursday.

“We are in a critical initial phase of setting up the Gang Suppression Force (GSF),” which is to gradually replace the previous Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS), the South African diplomat, appointed by the group of GSF partner countries led by the United States, told the United Nations Security Council.