UN Expert on Human Rights Wants Early Deployment of Kenya-Led Security Force in Haiti

UNITED NATIONS – The United Nations Expert on Human Rights in Haiti, William O’Neill, is warning that if the deployment of a Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission “takes much longer, there may not be much” of a Haitian National Police (HNP) to support.

William O’Neill, Designated Expert on the Situation of Human Rights in Haiti.“If this takes much longer, there may not be much of an HNP, a Haitian National Police to support. So, it is more than urgent that the force gets in there in some way, shape or form as soon as possible,” O’ Neill told a news conference late Thursday.

The mission was requested by the Haitian government and civil society representatives, following months of chaos and steadily worsening conditions affecting civilians. It is yet to be deployed.

Last October, the UN Security Council approved a resolution for the deployment of the Kenya-led MSS to help restore peace and security in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries where criminal gangs have attacked state building and have been carrying out kidnappings, murders, and looting in a bid to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Dr. Ariel Henry.

Henry, himself has been stranded in the United States ever since signing an agreement with the government of Kenya allowing for the deployment of the MSS. He has already indicated a willingness to step down once the CARICOM inspired transitional presidential council (CPT)  paves the way for a peaceful transition of power, continuity of governance and action plan for near term security and the road to free and fair elections.

In a statement earlier this year, the CPT has pledged to restore “public and democratic order” and that  it is “determined to alleviate the suffering of the Haitian people, trapped for too long between bad governance, multifaceted violence and disregard for their perspectives and needs”.

O’Neill told reporters Port au Prince and the surrounding area is essentially an open-air prison.

“There’s no way out. Air, land, or sea. And in fact, it’s not even so open air anymore because people are often afraid to leave their houses, literally leaving their house to go to a market if it’s open, is a life and threatening, adventure for them,” he said.

“What’s happened recently is attacks, specifically on hospitals. Over 18 have been documented. I think, barely half the hospitals in Port au Prince now function. And if the ones that are functioning, barely. You have a tax on schools, I mentioned earlier.

“A school was set on fire three days ago. I just learned this morning L’Ecole Normale, which is one of the elite academic institutions in Haiti was set on fire last night. You have an attack on the Central Bank offices.

“You had two attempts to take the National Palace. You have human rights defenders and journalists being targeted. So, this is extremely alarming. The gangs have turned their violence, towards people that, for whatever reason, they see as a threat to their continued control,” the UN Expert on Human Rights in Haiti, said.

Earlier, Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the Secretary-General, told reporters that schools and students in Port-au-Prince are paying a heavy price because of the ongoing violence.

He said the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) condemned an arson attack on a school that took place on March 25, depriving over 1,000 children of their right to education.

Across the country, UNICEF estimates that more than 1,000 schools have closed or suspended classes due to recent violence and insecurity.

“As we’ve mentioned before, the health sector has also been severely impacted, with at least half of all health facilities in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area either closed or having their operations severely disrupted,” Dujarric said.

He said that UNICEF and its partners have conducted more than 700 medical consultations in displacement sites over the last two weeks and that between 18-25 March, UNICEF provided psychosocial support to more than 600 children at displacement sites.

“Recent events are curtailing people’s access to basic social services. The violence is also hampering aid operations, including access to the port, where there are humanitarian supplies which remain at risk of being looted.”

Meanwhile, the UN Designated Expert on the Situation of Human Rights in Haiti, said the  gangs use sexual violence to terrorise, to intimidate, to control.

“And it’s a power, and it’s just horrendous. And there’s very, very limited services for the survivors and victims of these attacks,” he said, noting “everything’s so much in Haiti, it’s so centralised.

“Things come in, things come out, the commodities, and you have the gangs controlling the port, the main maritime port. Hundreds and hundreds of containers are now they’re either looted or can’t get out. And to the airport. The airport’s been closed. It’ll be for weeks soon,” O’Neill added.

Dujarric said the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has indicated that its response continues even as the situation on the ground remains tense and volatile.

The World Food Programme (WFP) continues its daily hot meal programme for displaced people in Port-au-Prince. Since early March, WFP and its partners have reached more than 54,000 displaced people with more than 263,000 hot meals in 38 different sites.

Also, since early March, more than two million litres of drinking water have been distributed by our partners, reaching some 60,000 displaced people in some 29 sites.

“As we have said many times, we need safe and unhindered access to those in need, as well as urgent and flexible funding. The Humanitarian Response Plan for Haiti, which calls for US$674 million, is currently only 6.6 per cent funded, which means that we have only US$45 million in the till,” Dujarric said.

He said the WFP has been able to leverage the support of donors to continue hot-meals distributions in the short term. However, without ongoing support, WFP’s emergency assistance is under threat for the next few months.

For its emergency activities, including hot-meals distributions, WFP requires US$61 million over the next six months. The overall funding gap is about US$103 million, for the next six months, Dujarric added.