The US and Canada are supplying armored vehicles to the Haitian police

US and Canadian military aircraft on Saturday delivered tactical and armored vehicles and other supplies to the Haitian National Police (HNP) to help fight criminal gangs that have worsened Haiti’s humanitarian crisis.

“This equipment will assist the HNP in their fight against criminal actors who incite violence and disrupt the flow of critically needed humanitarian aid, hampering efforts to stop the spread of cholera,” the US and Canadian governments said in a joint statement.

The United States and Canada stepped in to transport equipment bought by the Haitian government when the company faced delivery delays, a State Department spokesman said, adding that Washington would continue efforts to strengthen Haitian police.

Haitians are experiencing catastrophic famine due to gangsters blocking a major fuel terminal, UN officials said Friday, and more than 4 million people face acute food insecurity.

A coalition of gangs has blocked the distribution of diesel and petrol for more than a month in protest at a plan to cut fuel subsidies. Most transport is stopped, and robberies and gang clashes are becoming more frequent.

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

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres proposed that one or more countries send a “rapid action force” to help Haitian police deal with the threat posed by gangs, according to a letter to the Security Council seen by Reuters.

The US-Mexico-drafted resolution will take note of Guterres’ letter and urge “the immediate deployment of a multinational rapid-action force in support of the HNP, as recommended in the Secretary-General’s letter.”

The 15-member Security Council could vote on the draft resolution as early as Monday, diplomats said. Nine votes in favor and no vetoes from permanent members Russia, China, the United States, France or Britain are needed to pass the resolution.