Extra Kenyan police deployed to Haiti to fight violent gangs

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — All 200 policemen from Kenya arrived Tuesday haiti for one UN supported initiative The East African country has taken the lead in combating violent gangs that have taken over parts of the restive Caribbean country.

Officials arrived only about the life to come primary party 200 descended on the capital of Port-au-Prince, where gangs control at least 80% of the city.

Expiration Month United Nations Security Council Strongly condemned the “extreme levels of armed violence” in Haiti, which is undermining security in the country and the region.

The government has refused to give key points to Kenyans’ actions, citing security reasons. Concerned press correspondents have paid attention to them on patrol in areas such as major global airports, which reopened in May, leading to growth gang violence Pressured to have a relationship for about three months.

“We are pleased to work shoulder to shoulder with the Kenyan people,” said Normil Rameau, The untouched leadership of Haiti’s nationwide police, After some time it was said that they arrived. “In the name of the government, we warmly welcome them.”

More Kenyans are expected to arrive in the coming weeks and months and will include a total of 2,500 personnel, along with police and infantry from the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Chad and Jamaica. According to the United Nations Security Council, they will be deployed in tiers at a cost of approximately $600 million per project.

The Kenyan-led project aims to strengthen Haiti’s national police, which has only 10,000 officers active a week in a country of more than 11 million that is understaffed and underfunded.

The project also aims to crush gangs accused of killing more than 4,450 state militants and wounding another 1,668 people, more than twice as many as the former president, according to the United Nations. More than 1,500 people were killed or injured in the first three months of the show.

While currently some Haitians have welcomed the arrival of the Kenyans, others remain cautious.

Diego da Rin of the World Situation Staff, who was recently in Haiti, said, “The fear of Haitians is that this mission, as has happened in the past … will only bring a temporary reduction in violence.” Da Rin said some politicians and industry owners have long been linked to gangs, and warned that the state of emergency would continue “unless the problems of impunity and corruption are addressed.”

Another concern is that Kenyan police have faced allegations of abuses in their country over the years, including extrajudicial killings. Once his habits were examined afresh opened fire on protesters Amid the ongoing turmoil in recent weeks, which has claimed dozens of lives across the country.

Additionally, a prior intervention in Haiti – the UN’s 2004–2017 peacekeeping project – once went awry. sexual harassment allegation and construction of Cholera, which killed approximately 10,000 people,

Jean-Marc Etienne, 49, lost his home in the past when gangs attacked his community, forcing him to flee like many others. He said he had not seen Kenyans on patrol since the first contingent arrived in June.

“Security has not improved,” he said while driving a sugarcane cart at the airport. “On top of that, kidnappings have started again.” He and his gang were living under a tarp in a friend’s backyard, exposed to intense heat and heavy rain.

the gangs are gone More than one million Haitians have been left homeless in recent days,

“No action is being taken yet,” said Mario Jean-Baptiste, 39, as he headed to the airport and looked around for glimpses of Kenyans. “This is what the Haitian people are counting on.”

He said Haitians are still not able to travel freely about Port-au-Prince and many do not have places to park or anything to eat during the holidays: “They are living like dogs. ”

The violence got worse before this demonstration When gangs launched coordinated attacks in February. They opened fire at a major international airport, stormed more than two police stations and stormed Haiti’s two largest prisons, freeing more than 4,000 prisoners.

The attacks ultimately resulted in Retirement of former High Minister Ariel HenryWho had demanded immediate deployment of international forces in 2022. His retirement last April was adopted through the appointment of a Transitional Presidential Council and An untouched top minister, Gary Connell.

Cotto reported from San Juan, Puerto Rico.