The United States has allocated an initial $10 million of the $50 million pledged for the deployment of the Multinational Mission in Haiti.
These funds are part of the $50 million contribution provided for in the US budget to be approved by Congress.
The announcement was made by a State Department spokesperson, who said that the Biden administration continues to engage with congressional committees on Haiti.
More than 70 briefings have been held with Congress since May 2023, according to the spokesperson in an electronic conversation with CTN’s editorial staff.
These briefings demonstrate the U.S. government’s ongoing commitment and attention to the situation in Haiti, she said.
This financial assistance is complemented by $200 million in in-kind support from the Department of Defense.
This amount comes from an appropriation previously approved by Congress for the U.S. Department of Defense.
Secretary Blinken had announced on March 11 that the Department of Defense would double its support for the mission from $100 million to $200 million.
This brings the total planned U.S. support, in collaboration with Congress, to $300 million for the MSS mission, said the spokeswoman, who reiterated that rapid deployment of the MSS mission is a top priority for the Biden administration.
In order to facilitate the urgent restoration of security in Haiti, the State Department is working closely with international partners and Congress to provide immediate support to the Haitian National Police (HNP) and to accelerate the deployment of the MSS mission, the spokesperson explained to Emmanuel Paul of CaribbeanTelevisionNetwork (CTN).
The United States urges its international partners to join us in increasing their support for these efforts, recognizing the critical importance of restoring stability and security to Haiti.
Security situation: more than 800 U.S. citizens had left Haiti by March 17
The State Department has successfully facilitated the safe departure of more than 800 U.S. citizens and their family members from Haiti since March 17, revealed a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of State, who underscored the U.S. commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of its citizens in Haiti during these difficult times.
U.S. citizens currently in Haiti who wish to inform the U.S. government of their situation and provide updated contact information are encouraged to fill out the crisis intake form available at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel.html or on the U.S. Embassy in Haiti website https://ht.usembassy.gov/. This will enable them to communicate effectively with the U.S. government and receive its assistance in times of crisis, said the spokesperson, who hopes that conditions in Haiti will soon improve, enabling a full return to commercial travel.
The United States, the international community and the Haitian authorities are actively working towards this goal, she added.
Setting up the transitional government
With regard to the establishment of a new transitional government, the Department’s spokeswoman applauded the progress made in discussions aimed at leading to the installation of council members.
However, Haiti’s resigning government seems reluctant to issue the decree concerning the formation of the presidential college, which is essential for the establishment of the new government.
Members of Ariel Henry’s resigning government are blackmailing the government. They have proposed amending the document sent to them, believing that the members of the Presidential College are giving themselves far too much power, according to a report by Radio Métronome on Wednesday.
Negotiations within the Transitional Political Council (CPT) ended on April 7, with the signing by all CPT members and their sectoral supporters of a political agreement which included, as an annex, a procedural decree necessary for an orderly transition of power.
Both documents have been sent to CARICOM for transmission to the current government, recalled the State Department spokesperson, who however did not wish to comments, contenting herself with referring us to the presidential college and the resigned government of Ariel Henry for the administrative procedures relating to the installation of the CPT.