By Lorenzo W. Snelling | Special to Le Floridien
As the violence in Haiti intensifies, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) passed a resolution to send a multinational security force to Haiti to neutralize the anarchy that has terrorized the country since the assissination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021.
The UNSC voted to send a multinational armed force led by Kenya to Haiti to help combat violent gangs, marking the first time in almost 20 years that a force would be deployed to the troubled Caribbean nation.
It came a year after Haiti’s interim government called on the U.N. for help.
There’s also an effort to move disabled kids from Haiti to Jamaica to keep them out of harm’s way during the violence but met with resistance from a child welfare agency for the orphanage for not reporting three kids had died from the violence.
According to the Miami Herald, Arielle Jeanty Villedrouin, the director of Haiti’s Institute of Social Welfare and Research, said while she understands the HaitiChildren orphanage’s “concern for the well-being of these vulnerable children and the need to provide them with adequate medical care and protection,” she cannot support the transfer of all 62 of its disabled children to another country.
Located in the rural town of Arcahaie on Haiti’s coast, the orphanage is at the crossroads of the territories of several heavily armed warring gangs that in recent weeks have cut off safe passage, kidnapped staff and invaded the facility, threatening to put the kids out of their misery.
Prime Minister Ariel Henry has been silent on the effort, according to reports.
The multinational security force’s mission is to suppress the gang violence as calls for help grow louder from Haitian citizens and Haitian leaders in South Florida.
South Florida U.S. Congresswoman Cherfilus McCormick, a Haitian immigrant, praised the move because the gang violence is getting out of hand resulting in multiple injuries, deaths and kidnappings.
She said it’s time for everyone to step up and protect Haitians from possible human rights violations.
“The adoption of this UNSC resolution is a welcome step forward to addressing widespread gang violence and promoting long-term stability in Haiti,” she said. “I am grateful for the steadfast leadership of President Biden, Secretary of State Blinken, and Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield, who have been unwavering in their commitment to this international effort.”
Cherfilus McCormick said the Kenya−led security forces are needed in Haiti because the surge in gang violence is overrunning the country, and ruining its economy.
She said Haiti’s gangs are responsible for some 2,500 murders this year alone.
“They want to move back into their neighborhoods. So that’s really where we want to see the people being protected and their livelihood being restored,” she said.
Meanwhile, North Miami State Representative Dotie Joseph, also a Haitian immigrant, is calling for a Deferred Enforced Departure designation for Haitians to prevent inhumane deportations to the Caribbean country amid the gang violence.
Joseph, who’s a member of the House Democratic Caucus, said the deaths in Haiti have exceeded civilian deaths in Russia’s war with Ukraine.
“Alternatively, we are asking the administration to administratively halt the deportations,” Joseph said. “Neither mechanism requires Congressional action.”
Joseph said the UNHCR, which is the UN arm tasked with protecting refugees worldwide, has called on the U.S. and all member states in the region to discontinue deportations to Haiti.
“Now is the time for the United States to set the example,” she said.
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