MINUSTAH

Support from the UN to help Haiti finally put an end to cholera, will continue when a new UN Mission for Justice Support, known as MINUJUSTH, begins its work next week.

That’s according to the head of the UN Stabilization Mission in the country, MINUSTAH, which ends its mandate on 15 October.

Sandra Honoré told UN News in an interview, that she believed relations between the world organization and the Haitian people were “positive” and the UN would continue to support Haitian democracy and development.

International support for Haiti will be critical as the United Nations continues the drawdown of its mission in the Caribbean country, the organization’s top official there told the Security Council on Tuesday.

The mission, known as MINUSTAH, will be replaced in October by a follow-on operation that will focus on the rule of law and human rights.

Dianne Penn reports.

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The UN Secretary-General is recommending that the UN Mission in Haiti also known as MINUSTAH close in mid-October this year, the UN special envoy to the country said on Tuesday.

Sandra Honoré made the announcement to members of the Security Council members, adding that António Guterres also called for a smaller peacekeeping operation to develop the police force and strengthen the rule of law in the Caribbean island.

Peacekeepers from the UN mission in Haiti, MINUSTAH, are supporting efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to scores of people affected by Hurricane Matthew.

The storm barrelled through the Caribbean nation on Tuesday and the UN says more than 350,000 people require assistance while some news agencies are putting the death toll at over 800.

Haiti was set to hold presidential and legislative elections on Sunday which have been postponed.

Peacekeepers working for the UN mission in Haiti have done what’s been described as a “beautiful job” making the Caribbean island nation “more secure” than it was when they arrived 12 years ago.

That’s the opinion of the Force Commander of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti, MINUSTAH, General Ajax Porto Pinheiro.

Having more women in parliament and other high-level public offices will go a long way towards achieving gender equality, a UN expert on the issue has said.

Baudouine Kamatari, Senior Gender Adviser at the UN mission in Haiti, MINUSTAH, says women must be part of decision-making processes that will affect their lives.

After more than two months without an elected leader, Haitians will go to the polls in April to choose a new President.

A disputed run-off election in January was postponed due to violence and an interim President was elected last month in line with an agreement aimed at avoiding a leadership vacuum.

Sandra Honore, head of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), on Thursday briefed the Security Council about the situation.

The people of Haiti immediately turned to their radios for vital information following the earthquake which devastated their country in 2010.

That’s according to the head of the UN radio station on the Caribbean island, MINUSTAH FM.

Only one station stayed on air after the quake destroyed infrastructure in the capital Port au Prince and further afield.

MINUSTAH FM’s coverage was disrupted for four days.