October 3, 2022 A protester holding a piece of wood in the Port-au-Prince of Haiti, a mock weapon, demands Prime Minister Ariel Henry's resignation
Haiti Capital Porto - On Friday, a senior Haitian official told AP that the Haitian government has agreed to ask for help from the international armed forces as gangs and protesters paralyzed Haiti and the basic supply of fuel and water decreased.
The official, who spoke publicly about the matter without authorization, said no formal written request had been submitted.
is not clear whether this request means the launch of UN peacekeeping forces. Five years ago, after 11 years of turmoil in Haiti, the mission of the peacekeeping force was over.
Earlier, OAmerica Secretary-General Louis Almagro, held a meeting with officials including U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Haitian Foreign Minister Jean Victor Genus to discuss the deteriorating situation in Haiti.
Almagro said on Twitter on Thursday night that Haiti "must ask the international community for emergency assistance to help resolve the security crisis and determine the characteristics of international security forces."
Many Haitians oppose the idea of another international intervention, pointing out that UN peacekeepers were accused of sexual assault and triggered a cholera outbreak more than a decade ago, killing nearly 10,000 people. "I don't think Haiti needs to intervene again," said Mathias Pierre, former election minister of Haiti. "We've been through so much, but nothing has solved... If we don't do it like Haitians, we'll face the same situation again in 10 years."
He called on the U.S. government to help reduce the amount of ammunition and guns flowing into Haiti and further equip the police so that they have more weapons and have the ability to master gang intelligence.
He is also worried about the situation that the international security forces will encounter.
He said: "They are not facing the army." "They are facing gangs located in poor areas, and they use their population as a shield to protect themselves."
Haitian National Police strives to control gangs with their limited resources and long-term understaffing, and in a country with a population of more than 11 million, there are only about 12,800 active police officers.
The power of these gangs has continued to grow since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021.
As Prime Minister Ariel Henry's administration agreed to the request of foreign armed forces, his office issued a statement claiming he did not resign and refused to accept alleged false reports circulating on social media that prompted hundreds of Haitians across the country to celebrate on the streets later Thursday.
His office said: "This is purely a fabricated, intoxicating strategy, planned by malicious individuals, aiming to create more trouble and confusion."
protesters and increasingly powerful gangs helped Haiti fall into unprecedented chaos, and after gangs surrounded a large oil depot in the capital Port-au-Prince , Haiti fell into paralysis for nearly a month until Henry stepped down.
Therefore, the staff could not separate the approximately 10 million gallons of diesel and gasoline stored on the site and more than 800,000 gallons of kerosene.
Protesters have also blocked the road since Henry announced in early September that his government could no longer afford fuel subsidies, resulting in sharp rises in gasoline, diesel and kerosene prices.
gas stations are closed, hospitals have cut key services, and businesses such as banks and grocery stores have also shortened working hours.
On Wednesday, the Office of the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti proposed a “humanitarian corridor” to provide fuel and assistance to those in need. It noted that the country is also responding to a new cholera outbreak, with several deaths reportedly and dozens of patients receiving treatment.
The United Nations said: "The most vulnerable are the first people to suffer blockade."
At least 13 U.S. Congress leaders demand that the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden ( Joe Biden ) stop showing support for Henry and “take into account extreme personal security risks and severe humanitarian situations” to suspend all deportations
It calls on the U.S. government to support “legitimate efforts to build a Haitian transitional government that respects the will of the Haitian people and should show Henry that the U.S. government will not support him when he hinders progress.”
Henry stressed that he has no intention to continue in power and plans to organize the election as soon as possible after the violence has subsided.
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