During her visit to Haiti, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield announced significant U.S. funding for additional security assets and humanitarian assistance for Haiti, underscoring the United States’ whole-of-government approach outlined in the U.S. Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability 10-year plan in assisting the people of Haiti, who have suffered too long under persistent governance crises and the brutal violence unleashed by gangs.
Specifically, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield announced the United States, through USAID, is providing $60 million in humanitarian assistance to support the Haitian people and alleviate the suffering caused by gang violence and the multi-dimensional crisis. Approximately 5.5 million people in Haiti are in need of immediate humanitarian assistance amid a complex humanitarian crisis exacerbated by civil unrest, disease, economic instability, and insecurity caused by organized criminal groups.
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This funding will fill critical gaps in nutrition, food security, and shelter; improve water and sanitation services; provide limited market-based cash assistance to allow affected communities to purchase essential commodities, and support critical protection services for Haiti’s most vulnerable, including survivors of gender-based violence. This aid builds on earlier commitments of more than $105 million, bringing the total USAID humanitarian support to the Haitian people this fiscal year to more than $165 million.
In addition, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield announced that the U.S. government, through the Department of Defense, will provide a significant number of additional mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicles to the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission to Haiti, delivering substantial new capacity. She also announced the State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs’ intent to procure additional armored vehicles to further assist the MSS mission personnel in supporting the Haitian National Police to counter gang violence.
These assets will be in addition to the 16 armored personnel carriers delivered in 2024, as part of the $200 million invested in the Haitian National Police, building their capacity to counter Haiti’s criminal gangs and improve security for Haitian citizens. With the enduring support of the international community, we will continue to work with the Kenyan-led MSS mission and the Haitian National Police to support the Haitian people.
The U.S. government continues to stand with the people of Haiti. The humanitarian and security assistance announced today by Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield has one clear purpose: to deliver on the needs of the Haitian people in their pursuit of a safer, more prosperous, and democratic future for all Haitians.