NEW YORK: The United States has unveiled $65 million more aid for Haiti’s police and asked the U.N. Security Council to formally support the deployment of a multinational security mission to help the country fighting gang violence, Western media reported on Friday.
Mission could be deployed within months
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressing a meeting in New York on the security situation in Haiti, said the mission, headed by Kenya could be deployed within months.
Haiti last year requested for help to fight violent gangs that have largely overrun the capital Port-au-Prince. Diplomats said the council could vote next week, on a U.S. prepared resolution supporting a multinational police deployment in Haiti.
Blinken said though the Biden administration will not be providing any troops it would work closely with the Congress to give $100 million to help the multinational mission with logistics and financial assistance.
He said that the aid would include airlift, communications, intelligence support and medical support. Blinken added the $65 million aid will aim to bolster the Haitian police ability to fight the gangs.
The US Secretary said Washington backs Kenya’s vision for a three-part security mission that includes supporting Haitian police, ensuring security and strengthening law enforcement in the long term.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a report to the council last month said that deployment of multinational police was needed to restore law and order in Haiti.
