PRESS RELEASE : Haitian actors must a agree a route forward to address insecurity, humanitarian and economic crises – UK Statement at the UN Security Council [December 2022]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 December 2022.

Statement by Alice Jacobs, UK Deputy Political Coordinator at the UN, at the Security Council meeting on Haiti.

Thank you, President and to our briefers –– including the new 2653 Committee Chair for their first update. I also welcome foreign ministers of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and the Permanent Representative of Canada.

President, the United Kingdom remains deeply concerned by the ongoing dire humanitarian situation in Haiti, which is being compounded by chronic insecurity and political gridlock.

As we heard today so clearly from the DSG and SRSG La Lime, the actions of armed gangs have displaced thousands, limited free movement of people and goods and denied citizens access to medical services during a resurgent Cholera outbreak.

The United Kingdom remains convinced that the perpetrators and sponsors of the gang violence must be held to account and denied the capacity to spread further instability and suffering.

So we are pleased to see progress on sanctions that are imperative in tackling criminal behaviour. These sanctions are a necessary tool to break the cycle of criminal violence that so disastrously impacts the Haitian people.

However, sanctions alone will not work. This is why the International Community must consider seriously any request for assistance from the Haitian government and society, including on security.

This must support and empower Haitian efforts to improve the security situation on the ground to create the conditions for elections, so that the Haitian people may choose their next government.

The United Kingdom continues to support action that moves Haiti closer to security and stability, with a return to democratic processes as soon as possible.

We therefore welcome signs of movement towards resolving the political gridlock. But there must now be determined efforts to reach a political consensus. An urgent route forward is needed to address the insecurity, humanitarian and economic crises and avoid further deterioration of the situation.

Thank you.