UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric told reporters in New York that António Guterres wanted to see “urgent measures, in particular by providing financial support to the multinational security support mission”, which has been authorized by the Security Council in an attempt to restore law and order in the country. crisis-stricken nation, the poorest in the Western Hemisphere.
Kenya and Haiti signed an agreement a few days ago under which a contingent of 1,000 Kenyan officers is expected to lead the support mission, although it is unclear whether Kenya’s top court will allow it to go ahead amid constitutional challenges.
Benin confirmed last week that it would provide personnel to the mission, which Dujarric reminded is not a UN peacekeeping force. “This force will need to address the pressing security needs of the Haitian people and prevent the country from descending into further chaos,” he said.
Adding to the insecurity is the whereabouts of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who was in the Kenyan capital to sign the agreement, but has not yet returned to Haiti, which has been living under a state of emergency and a 72-hour curfew.
About 80 percent of the capital is now controlled by armed gangs who attempted to take control of Haiti’s main airport on Monday in a bid to overthrow the current government and prevent the return of the controversial prime minister.
Death and displacement continue
The UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, reported that new violence and unrest in the capital has led some 15,000 people to flee their homes, many of whom had previously been displaced.
“Despite security limitations, our humanitarian partners on the ground have begun to respond to these new displacements by providing food, hygiene and health kits, mattresses, blankets and sheets, as well as lamps,” said the UN spokesperson.
The World Food Program (WFP) and its partners have delivered more than 5,500 hot meals to some 3,000 people living in three new displacement sites, while the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has begun distributing materials for shelters emergency to more than 300 families.
The humanitarian community in Haiti is calling on all parties to immediately end the violence, Dujarric emphasized, to allow safe access to civilians in need.
Around 5.5 million people – almost half of the country’s population – need humanitarian assistance.
Financing gap
This year’s $674 million humanitarian appeal for Haiti is only 2.5% funded, only 17 million dollars have been pledged until now.
On Wednesday, the Security Council is scheduled to hold a private meeting on the situation in Haiti, at which the head of the UN mission in the country, María Isabel Salvador, is expected to report.
The UN chief also calls on all political actors “to quickly agree on the necessary measures to advance the political process towards the restoration of democratic institutions by holding elections,” said Dujarric.