NEW YORK, New York – The United States is seeking to generate support for the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission to Haiti.
US Secretary of State Antony J. BlinkenIn a statement, the US Department of State said that Washington held a meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on Friday to discuss the outcomes of the Kenyan-led technical assessment trip to Haiti in August, resource requirements for the MSS mission, and the need for a Chapter VII UN Security Council Resolution authorizing the MSS mission’s deployment.
It said the meeting was attended by representatives from Haiti, Kenya, Ecuador, France, Canada, and members of Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
The meeting discussed the plans for an MSS mission, options to support the Haitian National Police, and concerns about the urgent security and humanitarian situation in Haiti
“The United States intends to provide significant support to an MSS mission, including logistics, billeting, airlift, communications, medical support and potential funding,” said US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken in addressing the meeting.
“The dire situation in Haiti is a threat to international peace and security in the region. We must collectively come together to answer Haiti’s call.
“We look to the international community to also provide funding, equipment, training, and personnel. As President (joe) Biden said, ‘the people of Haiti cannot wait much longer.’”
Blinken said there have been more than 2,000 killings in Haiti in the first six months of this year; more than 1,000 kidnappings in the same period; over five million Haitians who urgently need humanitarian assistance; tens of thousands of Haitians facing “catastrophic” hunger; and nearly 60,000 suspected cholera cases, of which nearly half are children.
“When we recite these statistics, I think we have to remember what they mean, what the reality on the ground looks like, for the Haitian people, because it’s easy to get lost in numbers and abstractions,” he said.
“These are real lives, and the effects are profound. For residents in communes like Cité Soleil or Cabaret, it means – as a practical matter – that clean drinking water and electricity have been cut off for more than a year.
“It means shuttered hospitals and health clinics. It means people going days without having a single meal. It means parents not being able to send kids to school. It means minors subjected to forced conscription by gangs, and women to widespread sexual violence. Wandering outside the neighborhood – to shop for groceries, to look for work – can be, and often is, a death sentence.
Blinken said the United States is the single largest donor of humanitarian assistance to Haiti and that Washington since July 2021, has invested over US$120 million to strengthen its capacity to try to counter the gangs and stabilize the security environment.
“We’re taking meaningful action to address the scourge of illegal weapons flowing into Haiti. We are providing humanitarian support – more than US$205 million over the last two years. We’re using sanctions and visa restrictions to hold accountable those who are financing the gangs.”
He said the United States is committed to continuing and building on these efforts, stating that, on Friday, Washington imposed additional visa restrictions on current and former Haitian officials who are enabling the violence.
“With that step, we’ve designated more than 50 individuals. We’re also announcing an additional US$65 million to further professionalize the Haitian National Police and strengthen its capacity to dismantle the gangs and to safeguard communities,” Blinken said, adding that as the police force works to get to full strength and capacity, security assistance from international partners can play a “critical bridging role.
“That’s why the United States supports the UN-backed Multinational Security Support mission,” he said, noting that the government of Haiti, Haitian civil society, the UN secretary general, the Organization of American States, CARICOM, and other international partners have each called for such a mission.
Blinken said the proposal for this mission, now before the UN Security Council, is designed to be “truly multinational” in its resourcing and nature.
“It requires a collective effort if it’s going to succeed. And already, countries around the world are stepping up. We welcome and appreciate the Kenyan Government’s willingness to serve as the lead nation of this mission.”
Blinken said Kenya recently concluded an assessment visit.
“We support Kenya’s vision for a three-part security mission: providing operational support to the Haitian National Police to combat the gangs, ensuring static security of key installations and thoroughfares, and strengthening the Haitian National Police for the long term,” he said, adding that he met on Thursday with Kenyan President Ruto, “and discussed that vision”.
Blinken also thanked Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, and Jamaica, which have all pledged personnel for this mission.
“The United States stands ready to support a Multinational Security Support mission by providing robust financial and logistical assistance. We intend to work with our Congress to provide US$100 million in support, and our Department of Defense is prepared to provide robust enabling support – including planning assistance, intelligence support, airlift, communications and medical support.”
He urged the international community to pledge additional personnel, as well as equipment, logistics, training and funding on the proposed mission to Haiti.
“We cannot be successful without these contributions. And we strongly urge the Security Council to pass a resolution to authorize this mission. A Chapter VII UN Security Council resolution is a legal requirement for many countries, if they’re going to participate. And we know their willingness to do so, but they need the backing of a Chapter VII resolution.”
He said Washington is working with Ecuador to put forward a text on the resolution.
“As we do, we remain mindful of the lessons learned from previous missions in Haiti, including the need to safeguard human rights and to promote accountability. We also recognize that improved security must be accompanied by real progress to resolve the political crisis. The support mission will not be a substitute for political progress. Indeed, it can help create space for Haiti to move forward.
“With our support, this mission can deploy within months – and we really have no time to lose. We can and we must do what’s necessary to make that happen. The safety, the security, the future of the Haitian people – and people across the region – depend on the urgency of our action.
“And that’s why it’s so important that we’re all here today. And even more important is what we do coming out of today to be able to move forward,” Blinken added.
