Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
U.S. pledges waivers and funding support as Dominican leaders urge broader international action on Haiti
Loading...
Summary
Both governments called for a coordinated international response to Haiti's security and humanitarian crisis; the U.S. announced waivers and additional logistical support and praised Kenya's contribution to an international mission.
The United States and the Dominican Republic said they will press for a broader international response to the crisis in Haiti and that Washington will continue to support an international security mission there, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Dominican officials said at a joint press event.
President of the Dominican Republic (name not specified in transcript) said "there is no Dominican solution for the Haitian crisis" and urged greater financial and operational backing for the international mission, which he said must expand its operational capacity to avoid a worsening humanitarian situation and an uncontrollable migration wave.
Rubio said the United States "is committed to continue to work with the international mission" and that Washington has signed waivers to keep certain programs active. He said the United Nations holds about $100,000,000 in a fund for Haiti, that the United States has provided $15,000,000 to that fund, and that approximately $13,000,000 of U.S. contributions are currently frozen — figures he offered during the press conference. Rubio also said he had "issued a waiver providing for the use of I think it's close to $40,000,000 of additional support," and that contracts for logistical assistance to the mission and to the Haitian national police "are out there and they're working now."
Both officials stressed that the immediate security objective is to reduce gang control and violence in large areas of Haiti. Rubio said the mission as currently constructed "will not be enough" to root out armed groups and emphasized the need to broaden its mandate and capacity.
Both sides also said they would not expect the Dominican Republic to accept an uncontrolled migration wave from Haiti. Rubio said, "We cannot and will not ask the Dominican Republic to accept or be expected of them to accept an uncontrolled migratory wave." The Dominican president similarly warned that Haiti's collapse would threaten regional security.
Rubio highlighted Kenya's decision to lead a contingent for the mission as a creditable contribution. Both officials called for other countries and multilateral partners to increase financial and operational support to stabilize Haiti.
No legislative or binding multilateral commitments were announced at the press event; officials said further diplomatic and financial steps would be coordinated in coming weeks.
