UNITED NATIONS – The United Nations says that following the installation of a transitional council in Haiti, seven countries officially notified the UN Secretary-General on Friday of their intention to contribute personnel to the Security Council-backed support mission for the crisis-wracked Caribbean nation.
The UN said Kenya has offered to lead the multinational mission that aims to provide much-needed back up to the national police in a bid to regain control of the streets from gang rule, which has plunged the country into chaos in recent months.
Kenya was joined by the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Chad and Jamaica in pledging support, the UN said.
The UN Spokesperson’s Office said “other countries have expressed interest, including publicly, but have not yet notified the Secretary-General .”
Currently, the UN said US$18 million has been deposited in the support mission’s Trust Fund, provided by Canada (US$8.7 million), France (US$3.2 million) and the United States (US$6 million).
Meanwhile, the UN said armed violence continues across the country, with Port-au-Prince and the Ouest department the worst hit.
The situation also remains volatile at the national port, said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric.
“The Varreux fuel terminal is now closed after several attacks by gangs. However, on a more positive note, our humanitarian colleagues tell us that in the past three weeks, more than 100 humanitarian containers were retrieved at the Caribbean Port Service.”
The UN said the humanitarian response continues, and the World Food Program (WFP) has provided daily food assistance to displaced people in Port-au-Prince, and in other departments.
UN health agency the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have set up mobile clinics at displacement sites to provide medical consultations, the UN said.
It said the migration agency, IOM, is also providing basic medical and psychosocial services to people displaced.
