Haiti PM says nation far from winning against gangs

26/9/2024 6:17

        Haitian Prime Minister
        Garry Conille said on Wednesday the Caribbean nation was a long
        way from winning its war against armed gangs that control most
        of the capital, as a United Nations deadline for long-delayed
        support fast approaches.
        
        "We are nowhere near winning this, and the simple reality is
        that we won't without your help," Conille said at an event on
        the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
        
        "There is a sense of urgency because the Haitian people are
        watching with cautious optimism, they're really hoping to see
        clear results."
        
        Haiti is currently facing a crisis caused by a gang attack
        at the capital's main port, Conille said, the key entry point
        for funding and goods.
        
        A shipping official told Reuters this week that ships were
        being shot at, preventing them from docking and unloading
        containers, while authorities have reported the kidnapping of
        two Filipino crew members from a cargo vessel in the port.
        
        Haiti's main seaports and international airport closed for
        nearly three months earlier this year after violence escalated
        at the end of February, an outbreak that saw thousands broken
        out of prison and the last prime minister resign.
        
        "We worry that without the urgent implication of everyone to
        support this effort, we will lose the little success that we've
        been able to obtain at a very large price," Conille added.
        
        U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken earlier announced
        sanctions against former deputy Prophane Victor and gang leader
        Luckson Elan for their role in human rights abuses, as well as
        $160 million in assistance for Haiti, and called for further
        support of the U.N.-backed international security mission.
        
        About 10 countries have pledged over 3,100 troops, but only
        around 400 of these have deployed. The U.N.'s one-year mandate
        expires early October and its Security Council is set to vote on
        Sept. 30 on whether to renew it.
        
        While countries have pledged hundreds of millions of
        dollars, both the U.N. mission trust fund and humanitarian plan
        remain drastically under-funded.
        
        Musalia Mudavadi, an official from Kenya which is leading
        the mission, said the current funds were not enough to sustain
        the current deployment let alone the thousands of troops that
        were promised.
        
        "We encourage all the countries that have pledged troops to
        move with speed," he said.
        
        The number of people internally displaced has nearly doubled
        in the last six months, according to U.N. estimates, now
        surpassing 700,000.