PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti: The US ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, visited crisis-stricken Haiti, announcing $60 million in additional humanitarian aid and receiving updates on the Kenya-led security mission. During her day-long trip, Thomas-Greenfield met with the country’s transitional presidential council and new Prime Minister Garry Conille.
“Haitians deserve free and fair elections and a government that is truly accountable to the people,” Thomas-Greenfield emphasized in a press conference. The newly pledged funds, provided through USAID, are earmarked for food, water, shelter, and other essential needs, adding to the $105 million previously committed by the United States.
This visit coincided with the recent deployment of Kenyan police officers in Port-au-Prince. Kenya is sending hundreds of officers as part of an international force to help Haiti address escalating insecurity. Haiti has long suffered from gang violence, which worsened in February when armed groups attacked the capital, aiming to overthrow then-Prime Minister Ariel Henry. Henry resigned in April, ceding power to a transitional government responsible for leading the country to its first elections since 2016.
Prime Minister Conille recently announced emergency measures to combat gang control in 14 communes. The UN-approved, Kenya-led mission, initially set for one year, will include 2,500 personnel from countries such as Bangladesh, Benin, Chad, the Bahamas, and Barbados. While the United States is not sending troops, it is providing substantial funding and logistical support, including a significant number of armored vehicles.
The ongoing violence in Port-au-Prince has severely impacted food security and humanitarian aid access, with gangs controlling much of the city and committing widespread abuses. The US aid and international security mission aim to stabilize the region and support the Haitian government in restoring order and preparing for upcoming elections.
