In 2004, after a revolt that led President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to flee Haiti, The United Nation’s (UN) Security Council issued a resolution to establish a peacekeeping force in Haiti (MINUSTAH). MINUSTAH currently employs more than 6,600 military personnel and over 1,700 police officers, as well as hundreds of civilian staff assisting the people of Haiti.

Some adoptive parents have expressed concern over the fact that the mandate was set to expire in February of this year. Without the UN, some adoptive parents feared that rioting and violence would escalate; causing a strain on the Haitian people, as well as on Haitian adoptions. According to a UN report on January 2, 2007, United Nations Secretary-General has recommended extending the world body’s mission in the impoverished country for a further 12 months until February 2008.

“The Government will continue to face significant challenges in the coming months… Accordingly, I recommend that the Mission be extended for a further 12-month period…and with its present authorized troop and police ceilings,” Mr. Annan wrote, referring to MINUSTAH’s current mandate that ends on 15 February 2007.

Citing the potential for destabilizing forces “to use violence to attain their objectives,” he argued that, “The continued engagement of the Mission’s military and police will remain crucial in responding to significant threats at a time when Haiti’s own security capacity is still at an early stage of development.”

The challenges ahead for the Government cover the areas of “security, institution-building and socio-economic development,” Mr. Annan noted, adding that while primary responsibility for ensuring progress remains with Haiti’s leadership and people, international aid remains essential.

“Sustained bilateral assistance will be indispensable to further reinforce and strengthen democratic structures of governance and rule of law, including through meeting key infrastructural requirements. This will also be crucial to bringing tangible improvements to the daily lives of Haitians.”

“Tangible improvements in the socio-economic conditions of the general population, including through job creation, is essential to forestall an increase in popular discontent that could unravel all that has been accomplished thus far.”

In addition to extending the UN presence in Haiti for another year, the UN is also seeking $98 million assistance for Haiti, according to a report from Reuters on January 8, 2007:

The United Nations asked on Monday for $98 million to help Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, achieve stability in the wake of its first election since the 2004 ouster of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

The money would be used to help meet humanitarian and development needs and improve governance standards up to the end of 2007, the U.N. said in a statement released in Geneva.

"The appeal also aims to reduce vulnerability among the population, ensuring that authorities are better prepared in the event of natural disasters," said Joel Boutroue, deputy special representative of the Secretary-General for the U.N. Stabilization Mission in Haiti.

Despite the presence of a U.N. peacekeeping force, Haiti has struggled to shake off decades of political violence that peaked with the bloody rebellion ending Aristide's rule two years ago.
The Caribbean country remains plagued by brutal armed gangs, corruption and poor infrastructure.

Agronomist Rene Preval, who was Haiti's president from 1996 to 2001, was voted back into power in February.

But many Haitians complain that the man elected to bring change has not built roads, freed political prisoners or rooted out corrupt officials.
More than half of Haitians live below the extreme poverty line of $1 per day, less than 40 percent of those in the capital Port-au-Prince and other cities have running water, and 4 to 5 percent of the 8 million population is infected with HIV/AIDS, according to U.N. figures.

You can read more about the UN presence in Haiti here:

UN in the Americas

Photo courtesy of MINUSTAH