US Cuts Funding, Leaving Haiti’s Peacekeeping Mission Struggling – SOFREP News Team

The United States has announced a freeze on its funding for a UN-backed mission in Haiti, tasked with combating the country’s escalating gang violence, the United Nations said on Tuesday.

The decision, which halts $13.3 million in previously allocated funds, comes at a crucial time for Haiti, where gangs control large swaths of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and have plunged the nation into a crisis of violence and instability.

This freeze, as part of broader cuts to foreign assistance under President Donald Trump, raises serious concerns about the future of the mission, which has already been struggling with underfunding and a shortage of personnel.

The UN Mission’s Struggles and US Withdrawal of Support

The mission in Haiti, led by Kenyan police, has been facing significant challenges in its fight against the gangs that have brought the country to its knees.

With gang violence already out of control, more than 5,600 people were reported killed last year, and over 2,200 others were injured.

In addition, violence and economic insecurity have left more than one million people homeless.

The US had initially committed $15 million to the trust fund that finances the multinational mission, but the freeze has reduced this sum to a mere $1.7 million, halting the critical flow of resources needed to sustain the mission’s operations.

The impact of this decision is expected to be severe.

According to UN officials, the freeze will have an immediate effect on the mission’s ability to continue its work in Haiti.

The UN has been working alongside Haiti’s National Police, which is significantly underfunded and understaffed, with only around 4,000 officers available to patrol a population of more than 11 million people.

“We will await further guidance from the US regarding its contribution,” the UN spokesman said, cited by the Associated Press.

The US is the world’s largest donor of humanitarian aid, and this cut to Haiti’s mission represents a major disruption in US foreign policy and international security efforts.

El Salvador’s Military Contingent Arrives in Haiti

In the midst of this funding freeze, Haiti has seen an influx of support from international military forces, with a 70-soldier contingent from El Salvador arriving in the country on Tuesday.

These troops are joining the UN-backed mission, which already includes over 600 Kenyan police officers, alongside soldiers and police from other nations, including Jamaica and Guatemala.

The Salvadoran troops are expected to provide essential expertise in air support, particularly for medical evacuations, which will be crucial for the mission’s success in a country where gang violence continues to escalate.

The Salvadoran contingent’s arrival highlights the international effort to stabilize Haiti, where gang violence has reached unprecedented levels.

Recently, gunmen killed at least 40 people in an upscale neighborhood in Port-au-Prince, underlining the urgent need for both ground and air support to combat the growing threat.

Despite these reinforcements, the mission’s ability to sustain its operations is still uncertain, particularly given the ongoing issues with funding and staffing shortages.

The Bigger Picture: US Policy and Global Implications

The US freeze on funding for Haiti’s UN-backed mission is part of a broader freeze on foreign assistance imposed by President Trump’s administration.

This decision aligns with the administration’s stance on cutting back foreign aid to focus on domestic priorities.

The freeze has caused widespread disruptions in humanitarian programs around the world, and Haiti’s situation exemplifies the potential consequences of these cuts.

Critics argue that the freeze will only exacerbate the violence and instability in Haiti, where the mission’s efforts are already severely underfunded.

The US and international community have long viewed Haiti as a critical part of the geopolitical landscape, particularly in the fight against the influence of adversaries such as China and Russia in the Caribbean and Latin America.

Reducing support for the mission risks undermining decades of US foreign policy aimed at promoting stability, democracy, and human rights in the region.

Ongoing Struggle Against Gang Violence

Haiti’s ongoing struggle against gang violence presents an urgent challenge, with gangs controlling more than 85 percent of the capital and continuing to spread their influence throughout the country.

In addition to their violent acts, gangs have been involved in human rights abuses, including the recruitment of children, rape, and sexual exploitation of women and girls.

The UN has repeatedly warned that without increased support, Haiti could fall further into chaos, and its fragile government structures could collapse under the pressure.

The international community’s response, while commendable, is still insufficient to address the scale of the crisis.

The recent arrival of the Salvadoran contingent, along with other multinational support, is a step in the right direction, but without sustained funding and a coordinated effort from all international stakeholders, the mission risks falling short of its goals. The funding freeze from the US only serves to deepen the challenges, and the situation in Haiti remains dire as gangs continue to wreak havoc.

Wrapping Up

The US decision to freeze funding for the UN-backed mission in Haiti is a major setback in efforts to combat gang violence and restore stability.

While El Salvador’s military contingent is offering support, a lack of funding and personnel could hinder the mission’s effectiveness. This freeze highlights the difficulty of balancing domestic and international priorities, raising concerns about Haiti’s future security and recovery.

As the people of Haiti continue to suffer, swift international action is needed to prevent further deterioration and ensure the mission’s success.