Members of the UN Security Council vote
UNITED NATIONS, July 16 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Security Council on Friday adopted a resolution to extend the mandate of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) for a year, till July 15, 2023.
Resolution 2645, which won the unanimous support of the 15-member council, calls on all Haitian stakeholders to reach an urgent agreement on a framework for a political process to permit the organization of legislative and presidential elections as soon as security conditions and logistical preparations permit, and in this regard requests the Haitian government to provide an update to the Security Council by Oct. 17, 2022.
It calls on UN member states to prohibit the transfer of small arms, light weapons, and ammunition to non-state actors engaged in or supporting gang violence, criminal activities, or human rights abuses in Haiti, as well as to prevent their illicit trafficking and diversion.
The resolution demands an immediate cessation of gang violence and criminal activities, and in this regard expresses the Security Council’s readiness to impose sanctions, within 90 days from the adoption of this resolution, against those engaged in or supporting gang violence, criminal activities, or human rights abuses or who otherwise take action that undermines the peace, stability, and security of Haiti and the region.
It encourages continued close collaboration and enhanced coordination between BINUH, the UN Country Team in Haiti, regional organizations and international financial institutions with a view to helping the Haitian government to take responsibility to realize the long-term stability, sustainable development, and economic self-sufficiency of the country.
It encourages member states, international financial institutions, and other entities to contribute to the Basket Fund for security assistance to Haiti, and further encourages member states and relevant international organizations to further provide Haiti with capacity-building, technical support, and the training of national customs, border control, and other such relevant authorities.
It requests BINUH to work with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and other relevant UN agencies to support Haitian authorities in combating illicit financial flows as well as trafficking and diversion of arms and related materiel and in enhancing management and control of borders and ports.
BINUH, a special political mission established by the Security Council in 2019, is tasked to advise the Haitian government in promoting and strengthening political stability and good governance, preserving and advancing a peaceful and stable environment, and protecting and promoting human rights.
Meanwhile, a UN spokesman said armed gangs killed 99 people in the last week and have trapped nearly 300,000 people in the Cite Soleil section of Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince.
“Clashes between armed gangs broke out on July 7 and continued this morning (Friday) in Cite Soleil,” said Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. “The population of nearly 300,000 people is trapped in Cite Soleil, as all roads in and out of this part of the city are under the control of the gangs.”
He said that since the outbreak began, at least 99 people were killed, 135 injured and more than 2,500 fled their homes. Cite Soleil residents were already among the most vulnerable people in Haiti. In April, children under 5 years old were found with critical malnutrition rates.
Ambulances, medical workers and aid workers struggle to access the area to provide first aid or evacuate the wounded, the spokesman said. Shops and markets are closed, and no food or drinking water has entered the area recently.
The situation is also disrupting activities at the port of Varreux, the main port for transporting goods and humanitarian aid into the country, Haq said.
The densely populated and impoverished area of Cite Soleil has long been a victim of gang violence and kidnappings. — NNN-XINHUA
