U.S. support of Haiti now $1.3 Billion, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announces additional help

Garfield Ekon

Staff Writer

Haiti, October 7, 2024 – Haiti is set to receive another US$160 million from the United States (US) Government, to boost economic activities, health, and security, which brings US assistance to US$ 1.3 billion, in the past months.

US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken who made the disclosure on Wednesday September 25, while speaking at the 79^th Session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, and at session dubbed “Building on Progress to Address Security in Haiti,” said his country supports the Haitian people and their aspirations for a peaceful and “democratic Haiti.”

Mr. Blinken said in September, he traveled to Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital, and he “witnessed the many positive forces that are in motion, and today, we have a chance, to build on this foundation of security, to build on this progress, to build on a renewed sense of hope,” he said.

Stressing that the US is committed to doing it part, both to address immediate needs, and to invest in Haiti’s long-term success, and “we remain the largest contributor of humanitarian aid, including US$ 45 million in additional support. We have already delivered well over US$300 million to support the MSS mission, armored vehicles, radios, night-vision goggles drones,” he said.

The Secretary of State said consideration must be given to how the mission can be sustained, over the long-term, to provide for the “predictable funding and deployment” of personnel, in a way that has the continued support and trust of the Haitian people.

A release from the US State Department said the meeting “highlighted the progress the Haitian National Police is making, in restoring security in Haiti, with the support of the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission,” the release said.

About 10 countries have pledged more than 3,100 troops to the multinational force, formally known as the MSS, but only approximately 400 of these have deployed. The mission’s one-year mandate expires in early October and the UN Security Council is set to vote on September 30 on whether to renew it.

On Wednesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed that the funding for the mission, as well as the Haitian National Police, “remains totally inadequate”.

“I urge all those who have made financial commitments to deliver on them urgently. We must keep working to mobilize sufficient resources for the mission, and for the humanitarian response in Haiti.”