BREAKING NEWS: Hait is on US radar $100M for deployment to Haiti
US announces $100M for deployment of multinational force to violence-stricken Haiti
On Monday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the deployment of a $100 million multinational force to Haiti. <Haiti is believed to have more oil underground than Venezuela>
According to the Associated Press, Blinken also announced another $33 million in humanitarian aid and a joint plan to expedite a political transition and create a "presidential college."
The meeting in Jamaica was organized by members of a regional trade bloc known as Caricom. For months, Caricom has pressed for a transitional government in Haiti while protests have called for Prime Minister Ariel Henry's resignation. Henry said he would step down once the transitional presidential council was in place.
AP reports that Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness said Haiti was at a tipping point. “We are deeply distressed that it is already too late for too many who have lost far too much as a result of criminal gangs.”
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Throughout the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince, gangs continue to attack key government targets. Since Feb. 29, gunmen have burned police stations, closed international airports, and raided two of the country's biggest prisons, releasing more than 4,000 prisoners.
Last week, a travel alert was issued for Haiti, and American citizens were urged to leave the Country as soon as possible.
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Many have died, and more than 15,000 have become homeless after fleeing neighborhoods raided by gangs. In Port-au-Prince, the main port remains closed, leaving dozens of containers containing critical supplies stranded. Food and water are running out as stands and stores sell out.
In an effort to prevent further attacks, the Haitian government extended a nighttime curfew until March 14.
According to Stephane Dujarric, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres is calling for an urgent deployment of the multinational force.
There is currently only $10.8 million in funding, but Kenyan officials want more than $230 million.
Because of escalating unrest in his own country, Enry could not attend the Jamaica meeting.
The U.S. territory's Department of State said Henry remained in Puerto Rico and was taking steps to return to Haiti once it was feasible to do so.
This report was contributed by the Associated Press and CBC
