The United Nations (UN) has received requests for a peacekeeping operation due to the challenges the Kenyan police force in Haiti has faced, including a lack of funding and insufficient personnel.
The Kenyan police, leading the United Nations-supported peacekeeping effort in Haiti, are facing significant financial issues. According to analysts, these challenges have slowed progress.
The initial estimate for the mission was that it would cost $600 million.
Following the shooting of three aircraft by criminals on Tuesday, November 12, the United States of America and the United Nations halted flights to the capital city of Port au Prince.
The United Nations announced the suspension of flights to the capital city, including those that facilitate humanitarian relief, as a precautionary measure in response to the worrying revival of gang activity.
An incident the day before the decision to stop flights resulted in the wounding of a flight attendant. Gunshots from the attack struck an aircraft preparing to land in Port au Prince.
These events have cast doubt on the effectiveness of Kenya’s police mission, prompting suggestions to replace it with a UN-led one.
The United States of America (USA) and Canada have been providing financial support to the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS). As of this moment, the MSS has earned a total of $369 million from the United States, while other countries have contributed $85 million.
Despite the fact that the United Nations gave its approval for the operation, the United States is the primary source of funding for it.
In addition, the United Nations’ policy of only providing reimbursements after expenditures have been spent has presented a hurdle for Kenyan officials who are attempting to get access to the money in advance. As a result, the officers have been compelled to rely on the available finances from countries that are ready to provide them.
Additionally, the police force faces challenges due to a shortage of manpower and limited resources. Kenya has already sent 400 policemen to Haiti, and it is planning to send another 600 officers by the end of November 2024.
Experts estimate that the number of Haitian gangs exceeds this figure, and despite the increased deployment, it remains a remarkably small number.
According to estimates, there are over 200 gangs, and the total number of members in these gangs is approximately 15,000 people.
The Haitian gangs now control 85 percent of the major city of Haiti, Port-au-Prince. The consequence has resulted in the homelessness of more than 580,000 individuals, and the figure continues to increase with each passing day.
After the gangs opened fire on two American aircraft that were leaving Port-au-Prince on November 11, 2024, the United States government has now placed a thirty-day ban on the ability of its airlines to travel to Haiti.
As a result of the event, the United Nations has also ordered the suspension of flights to Port-au-Prince, which would restrict the amount of humanitarian supplies that can enter the nation.
