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TORONTO – Government You have said on Sunday (5/2/2023), that it deployed military aircraft above Haiti to address what he called the “dire security situation” and to support efforts to disrupt the activities of Haitian gangs.
As Reuters reported, Canada said in a statement it was supporting the Haitian National Police and deploying a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CP-140 Aurora long-range patrol aircraft in response to Haiti’s request for support as violence continues to escalate in the country.
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Haitian gangs have expanded their territory since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021. The resulting violence has kept most of the country off limits to the government and led to regular shootouts with police.
“Canadian patrol aircraft will provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities to support peace-building and maintenance efforts and will remain in the region “for several days,” said a Canadian government statement.
In October, the United Nations suggested a “rapid action force” be sent to Haiti to fight escalating violence from armed gangs whose territory fighting has left hundreds dead and thousands displaced.
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But many expressed scepticism, citing abuses from past missions and questioning the power backing Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s government, which has not had democratically elected representatives since early January.
Most countries are wary of sending troops, although nearby Jamaica has said it would be willing to participate and El Salvador has offered “technical assistance”.
About seven in 10 people in Haiti are again proposing to form an international force to assist the national police against violence from armed gangs, according to a survey conducted in January.
(esn)
