UNITED NATIONS, CMC – President of the Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) in Haiti, Edgard Leblanc Fils, has voiced support for a United Nations-led peacekeeping mission to combat gang violence that has “paralyzed” his French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country leaving his people desperate and nearly without hope.
Addressing the ongoing 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), Fils said while Haiti is becoming more resilient, it can only fully recover with international solidarity, calling for the start of a discussion on the transformation of the currently deployed Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission into a UN-mandated peacekeeping operation.
“This transformation would make it possible to secure more stable funding and expand the mission’s capabilities, but also to strengthen the commitment of UN member states to security in Haiti,” he said, going on to paint a dire picture of a county whose future is at risk as it struggles to rein in rampaging gang violence.
Fils said Haiti is currently in the grips of an “unprecedented security crisis” characterized by the increase of armed gangs, generalized violence, and political instability.
“Citizens are living in fear of even moving about freely or going to school, particularly around the capital, Port au Prince,” he added, stating that this situation is impacting all aspects of Haitian life, weakening the country’s institutions, paralyzing the economy and undermining hope in a better tomorrow.
“The future of the country is under threat: 50 percent of the gang members around the capital region are children – girls and boys that are used as cannon fodder in gang operations against the Haitian police.”
Yet, despite the challenges they face, the TPC head said, “The Haitian people refuse to be overcome by despair,” stressing that his transitional council is determined to lead Haiti towards peace, security, and participatory democracy through the holding of a national conference that would put forward candidates for national elections.
Fils recalled the dedication and hardworking spirit Haitians showed at home and abroad, stating that Haitian immigrants have long played a significant role in American society.
He told the UNGA that he was grateful to those who had shown solidarity with Haitian migrants, especially in Springfield, Ohio.
“The passions that naturally arise during an election campaign should never serve as a pretext for xenophobia or racism in a country such as the United States – a country forged by immigrants from all countries,” he said.
On Wednesday, the Biden administration announced an additional US$160 million in development, economic, health, and security assistance for the Haitian people.
The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, said that the aid brings the total foreign assistance from the United States to Haiti since fiscal year 2021 to over US$1.3 billion.
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