The United States continues to respond to Haiti’s insecurity and worsening humanitarian crisis and to support Haitian-led efforts to bring about a political accord that would benefit of all Haitians.
The United States along with Mexico introduced a resolution establishing a sanctions regime as an important step to help the Haitian people. The United States has also placed visa restrictions on parties known to have colluded with criminal gangs in Haiti.
“These steps have already begun to have a chilling effect on gang leaders and political and economic elites causing and financing the ongoing crises in Haiti, but we do not plan to stop there,” said U.S. Ambassador Robert Wood, Alternate Representative to the United Nations for Special Political Affairs. “We will continue to target violent gang leaders and their financiers. We are identifying additional targets to nominate at the United Nations in order to halt funding to those involved in the unrest in Haiti.”
“We are encouraged that the Haitian National Police were able to reestablish control over the Varreux fuel terminal. Despite this positive development, violence and insecurity remains an everyday concern for Haitians,” said Ambassador Wood. “Ongoing kidnappings, use of sexual violence and raping by gangs, clashes between gangs, and the blockage of the country’s main roads remain significant challenges. For this reason, we continue to advocate for international security support, including a non-UN multinational force as requested by the Haitian government.”
The United States has provided more than $90 million in security support to Haiti in the past 18 months and will continue to provide critical support bilaterally. “We also continue to provide lifesaving aid as Haitian people struggle to cope with a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation that includes famine-like conditions in parts of Port-au-Prince and the country-wide spread of cholera,” said Ambassador Wood.
The United States is expanding its emergency assistance to respond to growing protection concerns, help to stem the cholera outbreak, and deliver essential food and other commodities to the most vulnerable communities in Port-au-Prince and throughout the country. The United States calls on donors to also increase support during this critical period for Haiti.
