A second group of U.S. military personnel has arrived in Port-au-Prince to reinforce the current U.S. Embassy security team, U.S. Southern Command announced on Wednesday.
“At the request of the Department of State, U.S. Southern Command has deployed a U.S. Maritime Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team (FAST) to maintain robust security capabilities at the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince and conduct on-site relief operations. For our Marines, this is standard practice around the world,” said U.S. Southern Command.
SOUTHCOM clarifies that “the U.S. Embassy remains open and limited operations continue, focused on assisting U.S. citizens and supporting Haitian-led efforts to ensure a peaceful transition of power.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for U.S. Southern Command quoted by ABC News said that “SOUTHCOM is prepared with a wide range of contingency plans to ensure the safety and security of U.S. citizens in Haiti.”
“This week, the Department of Defense doubled our funding for the Multinational Security Support Mission, and we are working with Haitian, Kenyan and other partners to accelerate its deployment to support the Haitian National Police and restore security to Haiti,” U.S. Southern Command continued. “The Department of Defense is able to provide support to the Mission, including planning assistance, information sharing, airlift and medical support,” concluded the SOUTHCOM statement forwarded to CTN by the Public Affairs Office of the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince.