In what is being hailed as an historic first, the UN Security Council Monday, October 2 authorised the deployment of an international security force to Haiti.

The mission is supposed to help Haiti’s national police quell surging gang violence and restore security across the strife-torn Caribbean nation.

The mission was requested by the Haitian Government and civil society representatives, following months of chaos and steadily worsening conditions affecting civilians.

Appalling crime statistics

There have been more than 3,000 homicides reported this year, and over 1,500 instances of kidnapping for ransom.

Around 200,000 have been forced to flee their homes while sexual violence and abuse against women and girls at the hands of armed gangs ticks up. Tens of thousands of children are unable to go to school.

Adopting the resolution with a recorded vote of 13 in favour and 2 abstentions (Russia and China), ambassadors in New York also authorized the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission to help secure critical infrastructure and transit hubs such as the airport, ports, schools, hospitals and key intersections.

‘Highest standards of transparency’

They also called on countries participating in the mission to ensure the highest standards of transparency, conduct and discipline for their personnel, and called for an oversight mechanism to prevent human rights violations or abuses, including sexual exploitation. 

The non-UN mission is also slated to help ensure unhindered and safe access to humanitarian aid for millions of Haitians in need.

The resolution, adopted under UN Charter‘s Chapter VII, which sets out the Security Council’s responsibilities to maintain international peace and security, was penned by the United States and Ecuador.

Kenya to send 1000 police officers

Kenya will be leading the security assistance mission in Haiti, pledging 1,000 police officers.

Haiti welcomed Kenya’s offer “with great interest”.

“Haiti appreciates this expression of African solidarity,” a statement from Foreign Minister Jean Victor Geneus said in July this year, “and looks forward to welcoming Kenya’s proposed evaluation mission.”

It is not clear which date specifically the mission will kick off.