The U.S. military is not involved in the construction of infrastructure to house soldiers of the Multinational Security Mission to be deployed in Haiti.
This is what one of the people in charge of the US Army’s Southern Command told CTN.
The work is being carried out by civilian contractors independent of the U.S. military, according to a Southern Command spokesman, who denied reports that U.S. military personnel are at work building the MMS bases.
“The U.S. military aboard the planes carrying the equipment left immediately after delivering it,” said the spokesman, who confirmed that work is currently underway on the dams around Toussaint Louverture airport and in other parts of the country.
International leaders confirming their country’s participation in the MMS revealed that the first troops should arrive in Haiti at the end of this month. These include Kenya and the Bahamas, among others.
According to available information, the first contingents of Kenyan forces will be deployed at the end of May.
Since the beginning of May, U.S. military aircraft have been flying in and out of the country to deliver materials for the construction of the infrastructure that will accommodate the first members of the multinational mission.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Defense says it is keeping a close eye on efforts to prepare for the deployment of Haiti’s Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission.
The United States will continue to provide strong, multifaceted support to Haiti as it moves toward a more secure and prosperous future,” said U.S. Army Southern Command on its X Account.
Meanwhile on Saturday May 11, 2024, US Ambassador to Haiti Denis Bruce Hankins handed over to Haitian National Police Director General Frantz Elbé a batch of non-lethal equipment including armored vehicles to reinforce the Pnh’s capacity in efforts to conduct operations against armed gangs.
The gangs continue to terrorize Haitian territory.
On Friday May 10, 2024, armed bandits stormed the Gressier police station on “route nationale number 2.”
One person was shot and wounded not far from the police station during the attack.
Less than 48 hours later, several specialized PNH units regained control of the station.
The police are appealing for the public’s cooperation in defeating the criminals who have forced thousands of families to leave their homes in the commune.
In addition, a 16-year-old teenager was shot dead on Sunday May 12, 2024 in a new attack by gangs from the “ViV Ansanm” coalition in the Solino district of Port-au-Prince.