Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield to Make Critical Announcements During Haiti Visit Amid Escalating Crisis
Port-au-Prince, Haiti – Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. envoy to the United Nations, is scheduled to visit Haiti on Monday to address the nation’s escalating security and humanitarian crises. This visit comes a month after the arrival of the first contingent of Kenyan police in Haiti as part of an international security mission to combat rampant gang violence.
Key Announcements Expected According to senior U.S. administration officials, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield will make two significant announcements during her trip to support efforts to mitigate the ongoing security and humanitarian emergency in the Caribbean nation.
Strengthening Bilateral Relations An essential delegation of American officials, led by the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mrs. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, visited Haiti this Monday, July 22, 2024. The high-level visit underscores the U.S. commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and supporting Haiti’s development initiatives.
Gang Violence and Displacement Gang violence has forcibly displaced over 578,000 Haitians, with the United Nations reporting that nearly five million people—almost half of Haiti’s 11.7 million population—are experiencing acute hunger. Of these, 1.6 million are at risk of starvation. Armed gangs have taken control of most of Port-au-Prince, carrying out widespread killings, kidnappings for ransom, and sexual violence. The U.N. noted a 49% increase in rape cases between January and August 2023 compared to the same period in 2022.
International Security Mission In response to the crisis, approximately 200 Kenyan police officers arrived in Haiti last month as part of a delayed multinational security mission. This mission, sanctioned by the U.N. Security Council in October 2023, aims to bolster the national police in their fight against armed gangs. The full deployment of over 2,500 officers remains uncertain due to funding shortfalls, despite the United States contributing $300 million to support the mission, which is not a U.N. peacekeeping operation.
Reinforcing U.S. Support During her visit, Thomas-Greenfield is expected to reinforce U.S. support for the security mission and U.N. operations in Haiti. She will also urge Haiti’s interim leaders to make substantial progress toward a democratic transition, emphasizing the need for free and fair elections. Additionally, she will advocate for increased efforts to address the severe humanitarian crisis plaguing the country.
Urgent Need for International Assistance The United Nations has appealed for $674 million in aid for Haiti in 2024. Still, funding is less than a quarter of this amount, highlighting the urgent need for international assistance.
Tragic Incident Highlights Desperation In a tragic incident underscoring the desperation of many Haitians, at least 40 migrants were killed last week when the boat they were traveling on caught fire, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Haiti.
As Haiti grapples with these profound challenges, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield’s visit and forthcoming announcements are anticipated to be pivotal in shaping the international response and providing much-needed relief to the embattled nation.
Published 07/21/2024 at 02:00 PM EDT | Updated 07/22/2024 at 07:00 AM EDT | U.S. Ambassador, Linda Thomas-Greenfield at the UN: Photo Credit: The United Nations
