US Stops Funds, Haiti Asks Neighboring Countries To Help Fight Armed Gangs

UNSPLASH/Alex McCarthy ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Haiti's top ministers called for urgent security support from neighboring countries at a meeting of the Organization of American Countries (OAS).

This was done because the US indicated it would not continue funding at this time aimed at tackling armed gangs in the country.

The gangs with weapons, which the United Nations says are mostly smuggled from the United States and crossing the land border with the Dominican Republic, have taken control of most of the capital and extend to the central highlands and agricultural areas, displacing more than 1 million people.

"While we remain determined to help the Haitian people achieve the peace, security and prosperity they deserve, the United States cannot continue to bear such a huge financial burden," said Deputy Assistant Secretary for US Caribbean Affairs Barbara Feinstein at the meeting.

The US cut a lot of foreign aid and cost part of the funds previously promised to support the UN-backed mission in Haiti.

Earlier this week US Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested that OAS play a bigger role in supporting Haitian security, such as mobilizing troops.

"OAS is positioned uniquely not only as a forum for diplomacy, but also as a vehicle for coordinated concrete actions," Feinstein said.

Several countries have promised troops for the mission, but only a small part have been deployed. Kenyan-led troops are still short of resources and less successful at helping police contain gangs inside and outside the capital.

OAS special adviser Jared Genser recommended the UN Security Council vote to turn it into a formal peacekeeping mission.

Haitian Defense Minister Jean-Michel Moise said the situation was triggered by gangs taking advantage of the cocaine trade from Colombia to buyers and arms trading countries from the United States by sea and across the Dominican border.

"This criminal economy triggers local war engines," he said.

"Haiti is on the verge of full control by criminal gangs and we cannot allow that to happen. We urgently need the help of the international community," he continued.

Haiti has about 12,000 police officers and 1,000 military officers for a population of nearly 12 million, officials said.

Moise also called for restrictions - including some based on the implications of human rights abuses - on arms sales to the Haitian government to be relaxed, arguing it was easy for gangs to acquire military weapons.