The US military flew civilian contractors into Haiti to work with local airport officials on securing equipment and supplies, the US Southern Command said Tuesday, ahead of the expected deployment of an international policing mission to the country.
Haiti has suffered from poverty, political instability and natural disasters for decades, and a UN-backed multinational force — to be led by Kenya — has been tasked with helping its beleaguered police rein in criminal gangs.
“US…
The US military flew civilian contractors into Haiti to work with local airport officials on securing equipment and supplies, the US Southern Command said Tuesday, ahead of the expected deployment of an international policing mission to the country.
Haiti has suffered from poverty, political instability and natural disasters for decades, and a UN-backed multinational force — to be led by Kenya — has been tasked with helping its beleaguered police rein in criminal gangs.
“US Southern Command has coordinated several US military aircraft flights transporting civilian contracted personnel, equipment and supplies into Toussaint Louverture International Airport” in the capital Port-au-Prince, Southern Command said in a statement.
“These personnel will be working alongside Haitian airport officials to secure the equipment and supplies that have arrived in Haiti,” it said, adding that “this mission is made possible due to the continued coordination and support with the Haitian stakeholders who are working to keep the airport open and operations continuing.”
Kenya had put the multinational force’s mission on hold until a transitional council took power in Haiti. It was finally sworn in late last month, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for the swift deployment of the troops.
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