
Haiti’s Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, recently convened with officials from various countries forming an international steering committee. The committee aims to enhance Haiti’s struggling police department, anticipating potential support from a foreign armed force to combat the prevalent gang issues.
The international committee, comprised of representatives from the United States, Canada, Japan, Germany, the United Nations, and the European Union, will oversee the operational and institutional reinforcement of Haiti’s National Police, according to the Prime Minister’s office.
While specific details were not disclosed, it was mentioned that the program’s goal is to generate additional funds for an existing basket fund created to aid Haiti’s National Police. However, the amount pledged by each country or the specific utilization of the funds remains undisclosed.
This initiative follows a recent Kenyan court ruling declaring the deployment of police officers to Haiti, as part of a U.N.-backed mission approved last year, as unconstitutional.
Haiti has been grappling with the challenge of violent gangs, estimated to control a significant portion of the capital, Port-au-Prince. With only around 10,000 officers on duty at any given time in a country with over 11 million people, the police force has been overstretched.
Last year, more than 45 police stations across Haiti were attacked by gangs, leading to the abandonment of some stations. The U.N. reported dozens of officers killed in these incidents.
Despite a 13% increase in the police budget for the current fiscal year, a recent U.N. report highlighted that the allocation falls short of the department’s needs. Donor funding has mainly covered basic items such as vehicles and personal protective equipment, underscoring the urgent need for additional support.