UN mulls security boost for Haiti as stability worsens

The United Nations’ humanitarian relief arm on Wednesday allocated $9 million from its emergency response fund to provide food, shelter, and healthcare for citizens in Haiti, according to Undersecretary General Tom Fletcher. He visited Haiti this week and met with government officials and residents to discuss ongoing violence and instability in the country. The country’s political and security situation worsened this year, even after the deployment of the UN’s Multinational Security Support Mission led by Kenya, according to a United States Congressional report. Armed gangs continued to run rampant through the country, thousands died, and more than a million people were internally displaced, according to an August report from the UN Security Council. Millions more needed humanitarian aid.

What have foreign leaders proposed? The United States and Panama presented a draft resolution to the Security Council that would increase assistance to the country. The countries proposed establishing a UN office to resource international efforts to combat gang violence. Up to 5,500 personnel could be assigned to work under the office, according to the Caribbean Community organization, or CARICOM. A coalition of 30 countries on Tuesday signed a joint statement calling on the UN to take action to support Haiti.

Dig deeper: Read Christina Grube’s report about key Haitian gangs being named as terror groups.