According to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, most of the parties involved in Haiti’s transition council have already named their representatives, but there are still a couple that have yet to do so. This comes as Haiti faces a severe political and humanitarian crisis.
Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced his intention to step down once the council, which consists of seven voting members and two observers, is fully established.
The State Department had anticipated that the members of the transition council would be appointed within the next 24-48 hours, however, the process has been delayed.
Blinken, while visiting Austria, acknowledged that the establishment of the transition council is a work in progress and may not proceed smoothly or in a linear manner.
During Blinken’s visit to Jamaica on Monday, he engaged in discussions with regional Caribbean leaders and representatives from both the Haitian government and opposition regarding the crisis in Haiti.
Following Henry’s announcement on Monday, the capital city of Port-au-Prince initially experienced a period of calm, but reports of violence resurfaced later in the week, including a shootout in one neighborhood and an attack on the police academy.
Gang violence in Haiti has escalated, leading to a humanitarian crisis characterized by food shortages, displacement of residents, and widespread insecurity. Armed gangs have taken control over significant portions of the capital, with reports of killings, kidnappings, and sexual violence from rights groups.
According to U.N. estimates, over 360,000 people have been internally displaced in Haiti due to the ongoing crisis.
On Friday, U.S. aid chief Samantha Power was set to announce $25 million in humanitarian assistance for Haiti, including provisions for immediate food aid, relief supplies, support for relocation, and emergency healthcare.
This additional aid complements Blinken’s earlier announcement of $33 million in humanitarian assistance for Haiti. Blinken also mentioned that plans for an international force to address the violence in Haiti are progressing, despite facing challenges.
The international force, expected to be led by Kenya, encountered obstacles which prompted Nairobi to pause the deployment and reconsider once a new Haitian government is established.
“Once the new council is fully operational in the coming days, the process for the deployment of the international force will move forward, offering hope for a more stable future for Haiti,” stated Blinken. However, he acknowledged the ongoing political and security challenges that need to be addressed in the country.
(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk, Daphne Psaledakis and Ismail Shakil; Editing by Marguerita Choy)
