Belize Commits Troops to UN-Led Haiti Mission Despite Escalating Violence

The Government of Belize says it is committed to sending Belize Defence Force (BDF) troops to assist with security support efforts in Haiti, despite escalating violence in the island nation. For most of the year, gangs have terrorized Haiti, leading to two international organizations discontinuing humanitarian assistance operations. The situation prompted the United Nations to pass a resolution to deploy a multi-national taskforce to help restore law and order. On September 7, two senior officers of the (BDF) were deployed, and another 35 are taking language classes in French in preparation for deployment. Minister of Foreign Affairs Francis Fonseca says that he is closely monitoring the situation to ensure the safety of Belizean troops.

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs: “We are committed to sending a team of 50, but there are conditions that have to be met before we are satisfied that we can send those other members of the team into Haiti. Those conditions have not been met as yet, but we’re working very closely with our partners in CARICOM. We are a part of, you know, we move along with the Jamaicans in terms of Haiti. So Belize, Jamaica, Bahamas and of course the Kenyans are the ones who are leading the effort. So we’re working along with all of them. And we are monitoring on a daily basis, I get reports from our officers on the ground on a daily basis about what’s happening in Haiti. And obviously if at any time we feel that our soldiers who are there, the two who are there are at risk, we will remove them. And we will certainly, as I said continue to monitor the situation and then cabinet will make a decision about when we send the remaining members of the of the team.”

The officers already in Haiti are assisting with logistics and operational plans. They joined the team from Jamaica and headed to Haiti on September 12.