HAITI | Support for Haiti Mission from Seven More Countries, But what of the Oligarchs ?

NEW YORK,  NY, April 26, 2024 - Following the installation of a transitional council in Haiti, seven countries officially notified the UN Secretary-General on Friday of their intention to contribute personnel to the Security Council-backed support mission for the crisis-wracked Caribbean nation. 

Kenya has offered to lead the multinational mission that aims to provide much needed back up to the national police in a bid to regain control of the streets from gang rule, which has plunged the country into chaos in recent months. 

Kenya was joined by the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Chad and Jamaica in pledging support. The UN Spokesperson’s Office said “other countries have expressed interest, including publicly, but have not notified the Secretary-General yet.” 

Currently, $18 million has been deposited in the support mission’s Trust Fund, provided by Canada ($8.7 million), France ($3.2 million) and the United States ($6 million). 

Meanwhile, armed violence continues across the country, with Port-au-Prince and the Ouest department the worst hit. 

The situation also remains volatile at the national port, said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric. 

“The Varreux fuel terminal is now closed after several attacks by gangs. However, on a more positive note, our humanitarian colleagues tell us that in the past three weeks, more than 100 humanitarian containers were retrieved at the Caribbean Port Service.” 

Meanwhile, the humanitarian response continues, and the World Food Programme (WFP) has provided daily food assistance to displaced people in Port-au-Prince, and in other departments.  

UN health agency WHO and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have set up mobile clinics at displacement sites to provide medical consultations. Migration agency IOM is also providing basic medical and psychosocial services to people displaced.

In the meantime, the roughly 9,000 Haitian police officers providing security for more than 11 million people are often overwhelmed and outgunned, according to the United Nations.

A U.S.-led push through the United Nations and other channels appeared to offer a breakthrough last year when Kenya agreed to lead an international police force of 1,000 officers to combat Haiti’s gang violence. But Nairobi’s high court delayed the deployment.

“Haiti’s National Police may  not last long in fighting off the gangs,” said Eddy Acevedo, the chief of staff at think tank Wilson Center, who has been closely following the situation.

The Biden administration has said it won’t commit troops to any multinational force for Haiti, instead offering money and logistical support.

But the Biden administration as well as the Canadian government have important links with the critical Hatian Oligarchs  who have been instrumental in funding the so called gangs who have been perpetrating  the violence taking place in the Haitian Capitol of Port-au-Prince.

No oligarch has been injured nor has been killed in the Haitian violence.

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