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Ban sounds note of anxiety over Haiti’s continued instability

Ban sounds note of anxiety over Haiti’s continued instability

Map of Haiti and Dominican Republic
Efforts to stabilize Haiti have suffered serious setbacks in the past six months as a result of ongoing political disturbances, the delay in selecting a new prime minister and spiralling food prices, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says in a new report.

In his latest report to the Security Council on the work of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), published today, Mr. Ban recommends a 12-month extension to the mission through October 2009, citing recent political unrest as chief among his concerns.

After six days of increasingly violent demonstrations in April this year, sparked by public frustration at soaring food and fuel prices, Haiti’s Senate motioned to censure the Government on the grounds of inaction over the escalation in the cost of living.

Mr. Ban notes that the four-month paralysis of the legislative process while selecting a new prime minister, including delays in implementing State programmes, had undermined the confidence of the Haitian public and created a barrier to both internal and external private investment, which is critical to long-term recovery.

He also warns that rapidly rising global food and fuel prices posed a significant threat to the stability of Haiti, already the poorest country in the western world, and the well-being of its population.

Current levels of food aid only meet 5 per cent of the country’s needs. Importing 52 per cent of its food, including over 80 per cent of its rice, and all of its fuel, has also had a severe impact on the Haitian economy and on the living conditions of its people. National authorities indicate that food insecurity threatens 2.5 million Haitians, more than double the estimates in 2007.

“Urgent tasks that demand priority attention by the Government… include the adoption of short-term measures that can respond to the immediate needs of the Haitian people and help them cope with the ongoing global food and fuel crisis,” Mr. Ban writes.

“The continued deployment of MINUSTAH also remains indispensable. As was clear during the April riots, the Mission security components continue to play a critical role in ensuring the country’s stability,” Mr. Ban adds.

Mr. Ban also urges UN Member States to provide bilateral support through specialized training, funding necessary infrastructure programmes and institutional-building efforts.

“In addition to the support of the peacekeeping operation, the engagement of the wider international community will be critical for real progress,” he says.

The increasing cost of living is going to hit local families particularly hard in the coming weeks because of the additional expense associated with the return to school, Mr. Ban notes, while stressing the crucial need for immediate assistance.