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UN briefers outline urgent humanitarian and security needs in Haiti; WFP flights deliver supplies
Summary
UN spokesperson announced incoming briefing from Doreka Richardson and outlined World Food Programme emergency assistance to deportees and wider humanitarian needs; Secretary‑General has urged support for the multinational security force rather than deploying a new UN peacekeeping mission.
UN spokesperson Steph said the United Nations will be joined virtually by Doreka Richardson, described in the briefing as the deputy special representative, resident coordinator and humanitarian coordinator in Haiti, to brief member states and press on the current situation in Haiti.
Steph said the World Food Programme is providing emergency assistance across Artibonite, North and West departments, including $1,200,000 in cash-based transfers and nearly 3,000 meals distributed in border regions to Haitians deported back to their country. She told reporters that the WFP organized the first of two humanitarian cargo flights from Panama City to Port‑au‑Prince, carrying medicines, vaccines and medical supplies for eight humanitarian organizations; a second flight is scheduled in about one month.
The briefing emphasized continuing constraints on access and security in Haiti. In an exchange during the question period, Steph said the secretary‑general has communicated with the Security Council on the matter and "continues to believe that the deployment of a UN peacekeeping force in a place where there is no peace to keep is not the right answer." She said the secretary‑general favors strengthening support for the existing multinational security support force, calling for more personnel, equipment and logistics and for a UN support mechanism similar to past models that provided nonlethal logistical assistance.
Steph also said the secretary‑general had requested an office to strengthen the UN political mission in Haiti and that a humanitarian appeal was launched recently to raise funds for urgent needs.
The briefing identified immediate humanitarian priorities — cash assistance, food and medical supplies — and a parallel request for enhanced security and logistics support to enable aid delivery. Doreka Richardson was announced as the guest who will provide a more detailed on‑the‑ground briefing during the scheduled virtual session.
No formal decisions or new peacekeeping mandates were announced during the briefing. Questions from reporters sought clarification on whether a UN peacekeeping force might be deployed, and Steph reiterated the position sent to the Security Council favoring support to the existing multinational force and additional UN political capacity.
Looking ahead, the UN said it will continue to press member states for funding and logistics to sustain humanitarian operations in Haiti while coordinating with the multinational security support force and Haitian authorities.
