Editorial: Haiti desperately needs a new, bigger UN mission -- and American leadership

The Miami Herald Editorial Board, The Miami Herald on Dec 20, 2024

Published in Op Eds

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As Haiti endures a devastating crisis marked by escalating violence and lawlessness, urgent international intervention is required to address the growing chaos. With President Joe Biden preparing to leave office and Donald Trump poised to take power, the need for decisive action is clear.

Haitians are enduring unprecedented levels of brutality. This year alone, criminal gangs have killed at least 5,000 people and carried out horrifying massacres. Women and girls are being raped, children are forced into armed gangs, and elderly citizens are being targeted, shot, decapitated and burned.

In addition to widespread terror, bullets are being fired at commercial airlines, prompting American carriers like American Airlines, Spirit and JetBlue to suspend operations. Aid workers are abandoning the country and violence has become rampant, with warlords terrorizing communities.

The current authorized United Nations mission, led by Kenya and largely financed by the U.S., has failed to contain the gangs responsible for the carnage. Since the Kenyan force arrived in June, the situation has worsened. The mission’s 416 personnel have struggled to hold territory or make any meaningful progress against the violence. Gang control continues to expand, leaving hospitals and schools closed, food scarcity increasing and over 700,000 people displaced.

A recent report from Human Rights Watch underscores the urgent need for a new, stronger and official U.N. mission, one that is better equipped to restore security while respecting human rights. The current force, underfunded and understaffed, cannot meet Haiti’s immense challenges. A larger, better-resourced force, with dedicated funding, is essential to help stabilize the country.

The report stresses that restoring security must take priority over other concerns like elections, which can come later. Previous failed U.N. interventions should be carefully considered to avoid repeating past mistakes. A new mission must include military-grade assets, such as helicopters, drones, and tanks, along with personnel trained in military operations. The message to the gangs should be clear: “Enough is enough.”

The international community, especially the U.S. and the incoming Trump administration, has a critical role to play in advocating for a more robust mission — without resorting to American boots on the ground.

It remains uncertain whether a Trump administration would support such a mission or turn a blind eye. However, Haiti’s crisis is too close to home for the U.S. to ignore. Located less than two hours from Florida, the country’s instability directly impacts South Florida, home to one of the largest Haitian communities in the U.S.

Trump’s nominee for secretary of state, Sen. Marco Rubio, a Miami native, understands Haiti’s history. Rubio has previously argued that the U.S. should not intervene in Haiti, but let’s hope such a strict isolationist stance changes. Undoubtedly, addressing migration and security at the U.S. border will require helping stabilize Haiti and the broader region.

Despite its support for the Kenya-led mission, the Biden administration has fallen short in effectively addressing the crisis. The U.S. failed to prevent arms trafficking and did not take the lead in Haiti’s security efforts. Instead, the administration delegated responsibility to the Caribbean community and Kenya, with little success. By the time Washington intervened with sanctions and the ousting of a prime minister, the situation had already spiraled.

The international community must once again unite to provide tangible assistance to Haiti. Any new mission must collaborate with local communities, civil society organizations and government authorities to prioritize the needs and rights of the Haitian people.

A new wrinkle has emerged: both China and Russia oppose a new U.N. peacekeeping mission for Haiti, claiming to represent the interests of those harmed by past interventions. While this stance is rooted in concern for Haitians, neither country has contributed to the struggling Kenya-led mission. Haiti’s suffering should not be a pawn in geopolitical games. Countries in the region with diplomatic ties to China and Russia must use their influence to support Haiti’s people.

A transformation of the current Kenya-led multinational security support mission into an official U.N. peacekeeping mission is essential. Before leaving office, the Biden administration is supporting this initiative. We can only hope they succeed in this necessary intervention. Failing to act swiftly will only worsen the crisis in Haiti and have dire consequences for the country and the U.S., especially South Florida.

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