SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, CMC – Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez has reiterated his appeal to the international community to help Haiti deal with the violence gripping the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nation.
“I make this call again to the international community to assist the Haitian National Police so that they can resolve the climate of violence,” said Alvarez in a recent interview.
According to Alvarez, “without a resolution of that aspect, it is impossible to carry out not only a general election, not even a distribution of vaccines in an effective way or fuel (…) How can any foreign investment be considered under the circumstances like these?”.
He noted that the situation in neighboring Haiti, which shares the islands of Hispaniola, is primarily putting “great pressure on public services in the Dominican Republic.”
Last October, Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry requested a foreign force to deal with the situation. Following the appeal, UN Secretary-General António Guterres proposed the establishment of a “rapid action force” with military personnel from one or more countries and not under the UN flag. Still, to date, the international community has failed to respond.
Across Haiti, armed gangs have taken control of most of the country, generating violence that has forced thousands of people to flee their homes.
Amid this upheaval, cholera has reemerged, leading to at least 600 deaths since last October.
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