Sakshi Education
- The United Nations Security Council has voted to send a multinational armed force to Haiti. The decision comes after repeated calls by Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry for military assistance to combat violent gangs. The deployment of an armed force is expected to restore peace and security to Haiti, which will enable it hold long-awaited general elections. The resolution was drafted by the United States and Ecuador. It was approved yesterday with 13 votes in favor while China and the Russian Federation abstained. However, the force would not formally be under UN control and is expected to be led by Kenya. The East African nation has previously proposed sending 1,000 police officers. In addition, Jamaica, the Bahamas and Antigua and Barbuda have also offered support to the mission.
- The resolution authorizes the force to deploy for one year, with a review after nine months. The timing of its arrival is not set yet and more countries have been invited to participate. The resolution also calls for a global stop to arms sales to Haiti, except for approved security purposes. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres and the United States have strongly urged the international community to back such a mission.
- Warring gangs control much of Haiti’s capital city of Port-au-Prince and the main port, choking off vital supply lines to the rest of the country.
- Gang members have also terrorized the metropolitan population, forcing more than two lakh people to flee their homes amid waves of indiscriminate killing, kidnapping, arson and rape. Haiti’s National Police has struggled in its fight against gangs with only about 10,000 active officers in a country of more than 11 million people. The mission is expected to strengthen local security and to reinforce the Haitian National Police in its pursuit of the gangs.
Published date : 03 Oct 2023 05:24PM
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