The United States continues to stand in solidarity with the people of Haiti as so many have lost loved ones in recent floods, an earthquake, and spiraling violence.
“The security situation in Haiti continues to remain a great concern,” said Ambassador Jeffrey DeLaurentis, Acting U.S. Deputy Representative to the United Nations:
“The UN Sanctions Panel of Experts reported increased levels of armed violence and gang encroachment into new territories. Gangs’ influence. . .now extends to 80 percent of Port-au-Prince, and increasingly, beyond the capital. . . .The deliberate use of gender-based violence, especially rape and other forms of sexual violence, is just one horrifying tactic.”
“The United States strongly condemns this systematic use of sexual violence,” said Ambassador DeLaurentis:
“Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in Haiti continues to fuel further violence, induces displacement, and often occurs alongside other abuses against civilians. Survivors lack access to support services and risk reprisals for reporting abuses. The rampant gang violence has also reduced access to livelihoods and health care services, kept children out of school, and created a food security emergency.”
The United States has provided more than $110 million in humanitarian aid for Haiti this year, and will continue to work closely with partner organizations to meet urgent needs. But without improved security, the humanitarian situation in Haiti will continue to deteriorate, said Ambassador DeLaurentis.
The illicit flow of firearms enables gangs to carry out their crimes and to stockpile weapons that can surpass the firepower of the Haitian National Police. In response, the United States Department of Justice has created the position of Coordinator for Caribbean Firearms Prosecutions to improve information-sharing among countries in the region to support the prosecution of traffickers.
The United States also stood up a Haiti Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit in collaboration with the Haitian National Police to facilitate investigation and prosecution of crimes, particularly firearms and human trafficking.
The United States continues to work with a growing number of international partners to support security in Haiti. For these reasons the United States endorses the deployment of a multinational force to Haiti to help its police restore security.
Ambassador DeLaurentis urged the Security Council to do its part in assisting Haiti, including by advancing additional sanctions against those who finance and foment violence and instability in the country.
