OTTAWA, Canada– Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called for a clear plan of action before any mission to help Haiti goes forward.
Trudeau was speaking in the province of Manitoba, a day after his government sent a delegation to assess the humanitarian and security crisis in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member state.
“I’m so pleased that there is such an interest by the Caribbean countries to be part of any solution,” Trudeau told reporters. “But, of course, before establishing any mission, we need to see a clear action plan.”
Trudeau said information is needed before such a decision is made concerning the possible deployment of armed forces.
Haiti’s government is pleading for military assistance from abroad to confront gangs who have blocked the entrance to a fuel terminal in Port-au-Prince. The blockade has led to gasoline and diesel shortages and halted most transport, creating the need for essential goods, including clean water.
On Thursday, during an official visit from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Ottawa, Canada said it had sent officials to Haiti to assess the situation, saying it will not sit idly by. At the same time, gangs threaten women and children there.
Also on Thursday, the United States said it was confident of securing a U.N. Security Council resolution and finding nations to lead a task force in early November to address the crisis in Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas.
So far, no country has offered to lead the force, although the Bahamas has said it could send troops or police if asked to do so.
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