“Now is by no means the time for the world to turn its back on Haiti,” Ms. Mohamed told the UN Security Council.
United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohamed yesterday called on member states to urgently consider Haiti’s request to deploy an international specialized armed force to help restore security in the Caribbean country to ease the humanitarian crisis.
“Now is by no means the time for the world to turn its back on Haiti,” Ms. Mohamed told the UN Security Council. On the contrary, “it is time to take a step forward and turn the current crisis into an opportunity for Haiti,” she added.
Armed gangs are constantly expanding the territories they control in the country, especially after the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise by a group of mercenaries. Much of Haiti has been placed outside of state control, and street battles between thugs and the police or between gangs are almost daily.
In September, the gangs escalated the crisis, imposing a blockade on a fuel terminal for nearly six weeks, paralyzing most economic activity.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres suggested in October that a country or countries deploy a “rapid reaction force” to help Haitian police. However, he avoided mentioning the possible new deployment of UN peacekeepers.
To date, no country has offered to lead such a force, although the Bahamas has said it would send military or police if requested. According to diplomatic sources, some African countries are willing to support the project.
Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Robert Wood told the Security Council that Washington continues to “favor international support” for security, including the development of a “multinational force” that would not be part of the U.N., “as requested by the Haitian government”.
The US “has provided more than $90 million over the past 18 months to Haiti” to help restore security and “will continue to provide critical support bilaterally,” Mr. Wood added.
Russia’s ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia, for his part, said that Moscow always has its “doubts” about whether “the choice of sending an international military force can fundamentally change the situation.”
US Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said in October that Washington was preparing a draft UN resolution that would favor the development of an international force to increase security and enable the distribution of humanitarian aid. But diplomats note that no vote will be held before the force is formed.
In order to approve any decision by the SA, it needs to secure at least 9 votes and not be vetoed by its five permanent member states, which have the right to veto it (USA, Britain, France, Russia, China).
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