UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council (UNSC) on Monday voted in favor of sending an international Kenyan-led mission to Haiti to bring peace and stability to the Caribbean nation.
The resolution regarding the authorization of an international force to assist Haiti’s police was passed with 13 votes in favor and two abstentions.
Mission is not officially a UN force
The resolution allows the deployment of a multinational security support mission but it would not be an official UN force. The mission is initially approved for one year and can be reviewed after nine months.
The UNSC resolution also imposes a ban on small arms which previously only applied to sanctioned gang leaders.
Kenya has volunteered to head the multi-national force consisting of 1,000 police officers. Antigua, Barbuda, Bahamas, and Jamaica have already pledged to contribute personnel to the UN mission.
The United States has expressed its readiness to provide financial and logistical support for this initiative.
Last month Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry during his address at the U.N. General Assembly said that the worsening law and order situation has resulted in a humanitarian crisis in Haiti.
Henry stressed that establishing a combined force of police and military personnel would be an initial measure to restore the writ of the government.
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He further briefed the international body about the horrific activities of gangs, including massacres, kidnappings, human trafficking, and sexual violence.
In August United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had called for the deployment of multinational police to disarm gangs in Haiti.
Last year Haiti government requested the UNSC to send international help to fight violent gangs that have largely controlled the capital Port-au-Prince.
There are only about 10,000 police officials for more than 11 million people in Haiti. More than 30 officers we killed from January to June, and more than 400 police facilities have been destroyed in criminal attacks.
