Criminal gangs have blocked access to the main fuel depot in the capital Port-au-Prince, bringing vital services to a standstill as Haiti grapples with a growing cholera epidemic amid the economic crisis. economic and political recession.
Famine ‘catastrophic’
Levels of “catastrophic” hunger were first recorded this month, in the gang-controlled Cite Soleil neighborhood, and 4.7 million people are facing severe starvation, with many incapacitated access to jobs, markets, health and nutrition services.
Resolution 2653, drafted by the United States and Mexico, is the first sanctions regime imposed since Mali, just over five years ago. It established a committee that would be responsible for appointing sanctioned individuals and organizations.
Enemies of the people
The resolution specifically punishes the notorious gang leader, Jimmy Cherizier, a former policeman believed to be the most powerful gang boss in the country, known by the alias “Barbeque”.
He heads the so-called “G9 Families and Allies”, and the addendum notes that he has engaged in “acts that threaten the peace, security and stability of Haiti”, plotting planning or directing acts that lead to “serious human rights violations. “
Asset freeze, travel ban, arms embargo
Sanctions include asset freezes, travel bans, and arms embargoes for those who engage in or support criminal and violent activity, involving armed groups and criminal networks.
Designated activity includes child recruitment, kidnapping, human trafficking, murder, and sexual and gender-based violence.
Importantly, the resolution also specifies obstruction of humanitarian assistance within and outside Haiti, and any attack on United Nations personnel or facilities, missions and operations.
US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield speaks at the United Nations Security Council meeting in Haiti.
Speaking in the Council room after the vote, US Ambassador and co-writer on Haiti, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said the unanimous vote represented “an important step to help the people of Haiti.” “, and “actually reflect the consensus of the Council.”
‘Delete messages’ for gangs
She said the Council is “sending a clear message to the bad guys, who are holding Haiti hostage. The international community will not stand idly by while you wreak havoc on the Haitian people.”
She said clearly measurable and well-defined safeguards were also put in place to review the effectiveness of targeted sanctions, but the challenge now remains to restore security. and alleviate the humanitarian crisis.
Non-UN forces in the pipeline
Ms. Thomas-Greenfield reminded that the US-Mexico is working on a resolution that would authorize a “non-UN international security assistance mission” to deal with security issues to facilitate the institute. humanitarian aid. This, she added, not only meets the request of the Haitian Government, but is also an option proposed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
