UNITED NATIONS, Oct 9 (Archyde.com) – United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has proposed that one or more countries send a “rapid reaction force” to help Haitian police deal with the gang threat, according to a letter to the United Nations Security Council seen by Archyde.com on Sunday. armed.
Guterres did not propose the deployment of the force by the United Nations. He said that the 15-nation Security Council should only announce its approval of such a force, and noted that it might enhance the ability of the United Nations to support ceasefires or humanitarian arrangements and ensure coordination of efforts with an international force.
Haiti said last week it would call in a “specialized armed force” to help combat the crisis caused by a guerrilla blockade of the country’s main fuel port, disrupting transport and forcing businesses and hospitals to shut down.
The blockade also led to a shortage of bottled water at a time when the country announced a new outbreak of cholera which is being controlled through cleanliness and clean water.
On Saturday, the United States said it was considering Haiti’s request.
Guterres said the RSF “will, in particular, support the Haitian police, particularly in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, in securing the free movement of water, fuel, food and medical supplies from major ports and airports to communities and healthcare facilities.”
“To this end, the force will support the efforts of the Haitian National Police to deal with the threat posed by armed gangs and to provide immediate protection to critical infrastructure and services,” he wrote in his letter.
Guterres said one country would need to lead the rapid response force and that the force “will be phased out as the Haitian National Police restores state control over critical infrastructure targeted by gangs and begins to restore public security and freedom of movement.”
Guterres said the deployment of a multinational police force or a multinational special force might be considered to help Haiti in the medium term. He did not indicate that such a force would be affiliated with the United Nations.