A United Nations-backed contingent of foreign police officers has arrived in Haiti, marking the fourth major foreign military intervention in the nation's history. Approximately 200 officers from Kenya landed on Tuesday in Port-au-Prince, the country's capital. This deployment follows Haiti's urgent call for international help nearly two years ago after escalating gang violence led to the closure of the main international airport and significant disruptions.
The Kenyan officers will face gangs controlling 80% of Port-au-Prince, which has displaced over 580,000 people statewide. This initiative, called the Multinational Security Support Mission, is expected to include 2,500 officers from various countries, such as the Bahamas, Bangladesh, and Jamaica, and will operate for at least a year. The mission's estimated cost is $600 million, but so far, only $21 million has been raised, with the United States pledging over $300 million.
This deployment occurs amid severe instability in Haiti, where gangs have taken over swathes of the capital, causing widespread chaos. While the international force aims to support Haitian police and restore order, it carries apprehensions due to previous controversial interventions.