Dominican Republic highlights the urgency of providing international support to Haiti

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic warned this Wednesday of the power that criminal gangs have gained in Haiti -the country with which his nation shares the Caribbean island of Spain-, responsible of heinous crimes that could be crimes against humanity.

In his participation in the debate of the UN General Assembly, Roberto Álvarez Gil denounced the gravity of the chaos that prevails in Haiti and pointed out that, although it is the responsibility of the authorities of that country to control these groups and end their abuses, they do not have the capacity to do so.

“We must take off the blindfold and admit that the Haitian police, alone, it will not develop the capacity to guarantee order and subdue the gangs”, pointed out the chancellor.

Desperate situation

Álvarez Gil referred with alarm to the desperate situation that the Haitian people are experiencing, maintaining that it is even worse than the catastrophe resulting from the 2010 earthquakewhich devastated Port-au-Prince and left some 220,000 dead, including 102 UN officials.

On that occasion, he added, Haitians came together to assist their neighbors and the world came to help the country. Today, however, the scenario is more dramatic, he said.

“Given the inability of the authorities to establish order and guarantee citizen security, the resilient Haitian population feels abandoned to their own fate”with a paralyzing fear explained.

The Dominican minister described the current situation in Haiti as a low intensity conflict where violence has created deep social fragmentation.

wait desperately

Meanwhile, he added, Haitians “hopelessly await the belated help of the international community”.

In this context, Álvarez Gil assured that Haiti cannot wait any longer.

“We must act responsibly and now!” He warned and added that although the only lasting solution to the Haitian crisis must emanate from the Haitians, international collaboration is imperative to achieve stability both in Haiti and in neighboring countries and in the region.