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US to pull visas of Haitian officials, send assistance

Published:Wednesday | October 12, 2022 | 2:53 PM
Haiti's Prime Minister Ariel Henry speaks during an interview with the Associated Press at his private residence in Port-au-Prince, Tuesday, September 28, 2021. Henry and 18 top-ranking officials have requested on the second week of October 2022, the immediate deployment of foreign armed troops as gangs and protesters paralyze the country. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph, File)

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The United States government will pull visas belonging to current and former Haitian government officials involved with criminal organisations as well as provide security and humanitarian assistance to Haiti, senior US officials said Wednesday.

The officials spoke to reporters by telephone on condition of anonymity as a US delegation was arriving in the Caribbean country that has been paralysed by gangs and anti-government protests and is facing severe shortages of water, fuel and other basic supplies.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement Wednesday that the US will increase “security assistance” to Haiti's National Police “to strengthen their capacity to counter gangs and reestablish a stable security environment.”

The US officials who briefed reporters declined to name which Haitian officials would see their visas revoked or how many would be affected, adding only that the measure also applies to their immediate family members.

American officials also said the government is working with Mexico on a United Nations resolution proposing specific sanctions and additional measures to address the many challenges Haiti faces.

The officials declined to say how the upcoming aid would be distributed, although they noted that the US Coast Guard will deploy a major cutter at the request of local officials.

They also declined to say when, how and what kind of security and humanitarian assistance will be deployed, adding only that supplies such as bleach, water jugs and oral rehydration salts will be distributed amid the cholera outbreak.

As of Sunday, authorities in Haiti had reported 18 deaths and more than 260 suspected cases of cholera in Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas.

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