The Biden administration has announced plans to award nearly $110 million in security and police assistance to Haiti. This decision was revealed by a U.S. State Department official to Reuters. The funds had been on hold for several months due to opposition from Republican lawmakers, but the administration has chosen to move forward despite this.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken decided to release the funds following over 100 briefings to Congress by the State Department. The Biden administration emphasized its commitment to maintaining close consultation with Congress on the matter. However, the urgent need to address the severe security situation in Haiti influenced the decision to proceed.
The security situation in Haiti has become increasingly dire due to widespread violence by gangs. The State Department official highlighted that the people of Haiti are suffering and cannot wait any longer for assistance. The funds are aimed at improving security conditions and countering the violent gangs that have been terrorizing the population.
Out of the nearly $110 million, $95 million will be allocated for security mission support. An additional $15 million will be directed to the Haitian National Police specifically to help them combat gang violence. This funding is intended to stabilize the situation and restore some measure of safety for the Haitian people.
Senator Jim Risch, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed disappointment with the Biden administration’s decision. He and Representative Michael McCaul, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, had placed holds on the funds in March. They argued that more details were needed before they could approve the funding.
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The State Department had been working to secure congressional approval for the funds, emphasizing their importance for the deployment of Kenyan police to Haiti. This mission is seen as critical to addressing the escalating gang violence, which has disrupted food supplies and displaced hundreds of thousands of people.
Leaders of the foreign relations committees typically have the power to approve or block such funding. However, the administration can choose to override their holds if it deems the situation sufficiently urgent. In this case, the Biden administration decided that the extreme conditions in Haiti warranted immediate action.
By proceeding with the funding, the Biden administration aims to address the immediate security needs in Haiti and provide much-needed support to its people in the face of escalating violence and instability.
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