US extends condolences to families of US citizens killed by gangs in Haiti

CMC:

The Biden administration late Friday extended “deepest condolences” to the families of the two US citizens killed by gangs in Haiti.

“On behalf of the President, our Ambassador in Haiti is in touch with the families who we know are experiencing unimaginable grief,” said US Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller. “Our Embassy is ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance.

“Unfortunately, this serves as a reminder that the security situation in Haiti cannot wait – too many innocent lives are being lost,” he added.

Family members said the young US missionary couple, Davy and Natalie Lloyd, were shot dead Thursday night by gang members in Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital, after they departed a youth group event at a local church.

A Facebook post by Missouri State Representative Ben Baker, Natalie Lloyd’s father, indicates that Jude Montis, director of Missions In Haiti, Inc, was the third victim.

Democratic governance

During Kenyan President Williams Ruto’s visit to the White House on Thursday, Biden reiterated the United States’ commitment to support the expedited deployment of the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission to bolster the Haitian National Police’s capabilities “to protect civilians, restore the rule of law, and pave the way to democratic governance”.

“Working with Congress, we are supporting this MSS mission and other Haitian-led efforts,” Miller said.

After their meeting on Thursday, Biden and Ruto issued a joint statement, indicating that “the United States appreciates and supports Kenya’s leadership, pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 2699, in coordinating the Multinational Security Support Mission to Haiti”.

Biden said the United States plans to provide more than US$300 million in assistance and in-kind support to the mission.

“The deployment of Kenyan police to Haiti, where 1,000 of Kenya’s police aim to bring much-needed safety and security to the people of this Caribbean nation is a testament to Kenya’s global commitment, reach and impact,” the joint statement said.

Acute food insecurity

In the meantime, the United Nations said on Friday that the number of people in Haiti facing high levels of acute food insecurity could reach a record five million, or half of the population, by the end of June.

The price of staple food remains high in the capital Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas amid an already dire food security situation and rampant gang violence, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.

It said in mid-April, the cost of the food basket in the Ouest Department, where Port-au-Prince is located, was 20 per cent higher than in January.

The situation has not improved since, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), noting the resurgence of gang-related violence has put pressure on prices due to a scarcity of essential products.

The FAO warned that, if domestic agricultural production does not improve and insecurity persists, the price of staple foods is likely to remain high for the rest of this year.

Since early March, the UN said its World Food Program (WFP) has provided hot meals to nearly 100,000 displaced people in 80 sites across the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area.