Hundreds protest in Haiti against possible foreign military intervention

Port-au-Prince, Oct 21 (EFE).- Hundreds protested in Haiti on Friday against a possible foreign military intervention after the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution imposing sanctions and an arms embargo on gangs.

Protesters in the capital city of Port-au-Prince burned tires and shouted slogans against the UN and a possible intervention.

The demonstrators held banners that read “down with the BINUH, down with the UN, down with the Core Group,” referring to the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) and the group of ambassadors from several countries and representatives of the UN and the Organization of American States (OAS) initially set up to facilitate the work of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH, 2004-2017).

These marches took place shortly after, despite initial reservations from Russia and China, the UN Security Council unanimously approved a resolution drafted by the United States and Mexico on the imposition of sanctions and arms embargo on leaders of the gangs that have been fueling violence in the country.

The resolution also establishes a travel ban and asset freeze on the gang leaders.

On Oct. 7, Haiti’s government issued a formal appeal for an intervention by foreign military forces to unblock the country’s main roads and ports and ensure the free movement of water, fuel and medical supplies.

Two days later, UN Secretary General António Guterres urged the international community to send a “rapid action force” to Haiti to help its government recover control of Port-au-Prince from the armed gangs that dominate parts of the capital and block the supply of fuel and other basic goods.

These gangs, which control large parts of the country, including key infrastructure, roads and ports, have blocked access to the country’s main oil terminal in Port-au-Prince.

This has paralyzed the activity of institutions, banks and hospitals as well as the production and distribution of potable water amid a re-emergence of cholera a decade after an epidemic that killed thousands. EFE

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