U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that the Haiti crisis is a “long-term development” and that a solution will require coordination from the international community.
Blinken said the suffering of the Haitian people can only be resolved with a functioning democracy and humanitarian and development assistance to rebuild the economy.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken holds a press conference on March 13, 2024, at the Department of State Headquarters, Harry S. Truman, in Washington, DC. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
“Fundamentally, we need to ensure security, because it’s very difficult to do either of the first two things in a very insecure environment,” Blinken said.
In recent weeks, Haiti has been overrun by gangs, effectively cutting off the country from the rest of the world.
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The attacks began as Prime Minister Ariel Henry was visiting Kenya to promote the UN-backed deployment of Kenyan police, which has been temporarily suspended.
Since late last month, armed groups in the capital Port-au-Prince have torched police stations, attacked two of the country’s largest prisons and released more than 4,000 inmates. Gang leaders from at least seven communities are also among the fugitives, according to a new report from the United Nations Integration Office in Haiti, known as BINUH.
Masked members of the G9 and Family gang stand guard during the leader’s barbecue press conference in the Delmas 6 neighborhood in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Tuesday, March 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Oderin Joseph)
As of March 10, armed groups had attacked, looted and set fire to at least 30 state institutions, more than 600 homes and private businesses, and nearly 500 public and private vehicles, Binu said.
The gangs went on a rampage, attacking neighborhoods, leaving many dead and over 15,000 homeless. More than 130 people were killed between February 27 and March 8.
Haiti’s future governance faces conflict between political power and gang influence
Blinken met with Caribbean leaders in Jamaica earlier this week to seek a solution to the crisis.
Officials planned to set up an interim presidential council responsible for selecting an interim prime minister and a council of ministers to chart a new course. But by Wednesday, cracks began to appear in the plan after some political parties announced their disapproval.
Harvey, who is stuck in Puerto Rico, said Tuesday that the government “cannot remain indifferent to this situation” and said he would resign once the council is formed.
A police officer throws tear gas at people demonstrating against rising cost of living in Petit Goave, Haiti, September 14, 2023. (Richard Pierin/AFP via Getty Images)
The nine-member council has seven voting positions. The remaining two non-voting rights will be given to members of Haiti’s civil society and religious sectors.
It was not immediately clear who would be awarded a council position if it was rejected by a particular political party.
Blinken said he spoke with Kenyan President William Ruto and confirmed his country’s readiness to lead a mission to Haiti once the council is established.
Blinken also reiterated the United States’ commitment of $300 million to support the multinational security mission to Haiti. This includes his $200 million from the Department of Defense and his $100 from other U.S. government sources.
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“Now that we have done all this work, we should be in a position to advance that mission,” Blinken said. “We believe it will help restore security and take back control of the country from gangs.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
