UN extends international force’s stay in Haiti another year

Oct 01, 2024

Karah Rucker Anchor

By Karah Rucker (Anchor), Evan Hummel (Producer), Jake Maslo (Video Editor)

The United Nations Security Council voted to unanimously extend the Multinational Security Support (MSS) on Monday, Sept. 30, meant to curb mass gang violence in Haiti. The international force led by Kenya, struggling with underfunding and limited police officers, will now stay in Haiti until October of 2025.

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However, the resolution does not fix the funding and personnel problems, it only “encourages additional voluntary donations” and the deployment of additional forces. Currently, only 410 of the promised 2,500 personnel are in the country.

Additionally, the U.N. Security Council rejected calls for an international peacekeeping mission after Russia and China objected. This is despite pleas from the Haitian president and a previous push by the United States for U.N. peacekeepers.

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Some diplomats accused the United States of appeasing Russia and China by dropping the call for a U.N. peacekeeping mission, but a U.S. official told Reuters that it is a strategic move to build momentum for an international force.

Many Haitians are also reportedly leery of an armed U.N. presence after past operations were plagued by allegations of sex abuse and left behind a Cholera epidemic.

Meanwhile, Haitian officials warn conditions are worsening despite the deployment of the current support operation, as only a few hundred officers struggle to stop gangs that have overtaken the majority of the country. More than 700,000 people have reportedly fled their homes to escape the violence, and a hunger crisis is spreading.

Tags: Antony Blinken, Haiti, Haitian migrants, State Department, United Nations, United States

[KARAH RUCKER]

THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL MONDAY VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO EXTEND THE MULTINATIONAL SECURITY SUPPORT OPERATION MEANT TO CURB MASS GANG VIOLENCE IN HAITI.

THE INTERNATIONAL FORCE LED BY KENYA– STRUGGLING WITH UNDERFUNDING AND LIMITED POLICE OFFICERS– WILL NOW STAY IN HAITI UNTIL NEXT OCTOBER.

THE RESOLUTION DOESN’T FIX THE FUNDING AND PERSONNEL PROBLEMS. IT ONLY ENCOURAGES “ADDITIONAL VOLUNTARY DONATIONS” AND THE DEPLOYMENT OF ADDITIONAL FORCES. CURRENTLY, ONLY 410 OF THE PROMISED 25-HUNDRED PERSONNEL ARE IN THE COUNTRY.

THE COUNCIL REJECTED CALLS FOR AN INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING MISSION AFTER RUSSIA AND CHINA OBJECTED. THIS DESPITE PLEAS FROM THE HAITIAN PRESIDENT AND A PREVIOUS PUSH BY THE U-S FOR U-N PEACEKEEPERS.

SOME DIPLOMATS ACCUSED THE U-S OF APPEASING RUSSIA AND CHINA BY DROPPING THE CALL FOR A U-N PEACEKEEPING MISSION. BUT U-S OFFICIALS ARGUED IT’S A STRATEGIC MOVE TO BUILD MOMENTUM FOR AN INTERNATIONAL FORCE.

MANY HAITIANS ARE LEERY OF AN ARMED-U-N PRESENCE AFTER PAST OPERATIONS WERE ROCKED BY SEX ABUSE SCANDALS AND LEFT BEHIND A CHOLERA EPIDEMIC.

HAITIAN OFFICIALS WARN CONDITIONS ARE WORSENING DESPITE THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE CURRENT SUPPORT OPERATION AS ONLY A FEW HUNDRED OFFICERS STRUGGLE TO STOP GANGS THAT HAVE OVERTAKEN THE MAJORITY OF THE COUNTRY. SO FAR, MORE THAN 700-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE FLED THEIR HOMES TO ESCAPE THE VIOLENCE AND A HUNGER CRISIS IS SPREADING.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M KARAH RUCKER.