US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was satisfied this Saturday, July 29, with the progress made in Haiti for the founding of a multinational force for the maintenance of peace in this country. The Central American state is indeed plagued by growing violence and insecurity.
“We are determined to put in place everything necessary to create a multinational force, including finding a lead nation to do so,” Blinken said. “Hopefully we can report progress in this area soon. Gangs control around 80% of the Haitian capital, and violent crimes such as kidnapping for ransom, armed robbery and carjacking are common.
With Haiti’s security forces overstretched, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry have called for international intervention to support the police. Mr. Guterres has asked for an outside force to be sent to the UN, but the Security Council has asked him to present, by mid-August, a report on all possible options, including a directed mission by the UN.
Several countries have said they support the idea of ??such a force, but none have offered to lead it. This week, the United States ordered non-essential personnel and the families of government officials to leave Haiti “as soon as possible.”
The United States has been advising its citizens against traveling to Haiti for months, citing risks of “kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and a failing health infrastructure.” The travel advisory, which is regularly updated by the State Department, recommends a security level of 4, the highest level due to the risks involved.
US Embassy staff are already living in draconian security conditions, confined to a protected residential area and prohibited from walking in the capital or using public transport or taxis.
