New team of Marines sent in to shore up security at the U.S. Embassy in Haiti
In a statement released on Wednesday, the U.S. Southern Command announced that a fleet-wide anti-terrorism team (FAST) had been deployed to Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti.
The U.S. Military announced Wednesday that a new Marine team has been sent to Haiti in order to protect the American Embassy. This comes a day after Haiti’s Prime Minister resigned following months of increasing unrest and gang-related violence.
U.S. Southern Command announced in a press release that the FAST team of anti-terrorism experts was sent to the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince in the capital city, where chaos and civil unrest have been rife.
Marines in Haiti to maintain strong security at U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince and provide relief for current Marines. This is a routine and common practice around the world.
The statement said that although limited operations are still ongoing, the embassy is open. This includes “supporting Haitian efforts to ensure a peaceful power transition.”
A spokesperson stated that “U.S. Southern Command has a variety of contingency planning to ensure the safety of U.S. citizens in Haiti.”
In a standard procedure, the U.S. Military flew in troops on Sunday to airlift out non-essential personnel.
Ariel Henry, Haiti’s Prime Minister, said on Tuesday that he will step down as soon as a transitional administration is appointed. This was agreed upon at a Monday meeting between Caribbean leaders and U.S. officials.
There was no timetable for the transition. Henry is still prime minister and he remains in Puerto Rico. He cannot return to Haiti because armed gangs demanding his resignation have taken control of major airports.
In a statement, the U.S. Military said that it had doubled funding for a multi-national security mission in Haiti, and was working closely with Kenya and its other partners to restore security in Haiti. Additional support may include planning, sharing of information, airlifts, and medical assistance, according to the statement.
Henry’s exit was the key demand from the armed groups that control large areas of the capital. However, their campaign appears to not end there.
In a statement to Reuters on Tuesday, gangleader Jimmy Cherizier – also known as “Barbecue”, said he has a message for hotel owners who shelter politicians: “We will come for you.”
“We will not lie to the people and say we have a pacifist revolution. We don’t have a peaceful revolutionary. “We are starting a violent revolution in this country,” he stated.
While Americans continue to depart Haiti.
Mitch Albom is a journalist and author who founded Have Faith Haiti, a nonprofit organization that works with orphans and children. He announced on Instagram Tuesday night, he and his wife, along with eight volunteers, were evacuated after the state of emergency had been declared.
“My wife and me are safe tonight.” There are many Americans, Canadians and other people who are still trapped. “The people of Haiti is not,” he wrote.
He added: “I hope our attention will be turned to them, and we can work to restore peace and security to this beautiful country, and to its people. Our children, in particular, deserve much better.”
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