UN mulls quick foreign troop deployment to ease Haiti crisis

[Judi Lynn]

Photo by: Odelyn Joseph/AP

FILE - A protester carries a piece of wood simulating a weapon during a protest demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, in the Petion-Ville area of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Oct. 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph, File)

By: The Associated Press
Posted at 10:40 PM, Oct 10, 2022 and last updated 9:40 PM, Oct 10, 2022

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The United Nations Security Council on Monday was evaluating options including the immediate activation of foreign troops to help free Haiti from the grip of gangs that has caused a scarcity of fuel, water and other basic supplies.

Such a force would "remove the threat posed by armed gangs and provide immediate protection to critical infrastructure and services," as well as secure the "free movement of water, fuel, food and medical supplies from main ports and airports to communities and health care facilities," according to a letter U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres submitted to the council on Sunday.

The letter, which was seen by The Associated Press and has not been made public, said one or several member states would deploy the force to help Haiti's National Police. It also states the secretary-general may deploy "additional U.N. capacities to support a ceasefire or humanitarian arrangements."

However, the letter notes that "a return to a more robust United Nations engagement in the form of peacekeeping remains a last resort if no decisive action is urgently taken by the international community in line with the outlined options and national law enforcement capacity proves unable to reverse the deteriorating security situation."

More:
https://www.wcpo.com/news/national/un-mulls-quick-foreign-troop-deployment-to-ease-haiti-crisis

[mahina]

1. It's going to take a lot of us if it's just us

And nothing fast about it.

I really hope we can have an international force of 200,000 or so and somehow reset the situation from gang takeover.