Debate: Situation in Haiti
Date: TUESDAY, 23 APRIL 2024
Speaker: Janez Lenarčič
Language: EN

This rampant insecurity, which severely hinders the capacity of state institutions to function, is alarming. Reports from the UN Integrated Office in Haiti paint a bleak picture. Lawless gang violence has permitted all aspects of daily life, particularly in Port-au-Prince, where human rights abuses have reached unprecedented levels. Approximately 80 % of the capital is under the direct control of gangs, leading to the closure of major ports and the airport. The consequences of these closures on the imports of food and medical supplies are disastrous.  Regional dynamics also play a crucial role, with illicit firearms fuelling gang-related activities and drug trafficking across the Caribbean and towards Europe. Violence has also spread to rural areas and essential services, with hospitals and schools becoming targets of violence.  Haitian women bear a disproportionate burden of this crisis, with cases of gender based violence and rape increasing dramatically. The situation has forced the internal displacement of hundreds of thousands of people, including a significant number of children. This violence has translated into an acute humanitarian crisis, and millions of Haitians require urgent humanitarian assistance.  We continue to support the people of Haiti by any means in our power, working with humanitarian partners. Despite huge security and logistic challenges, the EU has committed nearly EUR 40 million in humanitarian aid in the last two years and is committing EUR 20 million more in 2024.  In April, an EU humanitarian air bridge was launched and it has successfully delivered 62 tonnes of medical supplies and relief items from our stockpile in Panama to Haiti. It is also imperative to curtail the flow of illicit arms and strengthen law enforcement and border control measures. The EU supports the training, equipment and customs control efforts of the Haitian National Police through our EUR 3 million contribution to the UNDP Managed Basket Fund.  Amidst this crisis, political negotiations continue – although maybe too slowly. We congratulate our partners in CARICOM for their continuous efforts in bringing the main Haitian stakeholders together to pursue this dialogue. Progress has been made, with the power-sharing agreement reached in Kingston, Jamaica, on 11 March on the establishment of a transitional governance structure with the appointment of a new Transitional Presidential Council and of its members.  This is an important step, as it opens the way for the deployment of a multinational security support mission to strengthen the efforts of the Haitian National Police in its fight against the gangs, restore the rule of law and the basic security conditions in the country, and ultimately pave the way for the holding of free and fair elections. The EU stands ready to provide its support to the broader objectives of this mission. The process is not yet complete. We urge all Haitian political forces to continue the work by appointing an interim prime minister and government, as well as selecting members for the Provisional Electoral Council. As a longstanding partner of Haiti, the EU is determined to remain engaged and to accompany Haitians during these difficult times.