A contingent from Sri Lanka has joined the new international Gang Suppression Force (GSF) in Haiti, a spokesperson for the UN-backed entity said Thursday.

“A contingent arrived in Port-au-Prince last night. For operational security reasons, we are not disclosing the number of personnel,” the person said.

New reinforcements are expected “in the coming weeks,” he said, as part of the ramp-up of the force, which could eventually comprise 5,500 uniformed personnel, including police officers and soldiers.

Its mission is to support the Haitian police to neutralise armed groups that now control a large part of the capital.