UN sets up air bridge for Haiti UN sets up air bridge for Haiti

The United Nations is setting up an airlift to supply the distressed population of the Caribbean crisis state of Haiti from the neighboring Dominican Republic.

This is intended to ensure a seamless supply of humanitarian supplies and the inflow and outflow of UN personnel, as the UN mission in Haiti announced late Wednesday evening (local time). Haiti – the poorest country on the American continent – ​​and the Dominican Republic, popular with holidaymakers, share the Caribbean island of Hispaniola.

The United Nations had previously announced it would withdraw its non-essential staff from Haiti amid escalating gang violence. Due to the volatile security situation and based on the results of a revised security review, non-essential personnel will be reduced, a UN spokesman said on Wednesday.

However, he emphasized that the United Nations will not leave Haiti. Workers who performed life-saving work remained in the country.

In Haiti, the government crisis has worsened following the resignation of interim Prime Minister Ariel Henry. Henry took over the reins of government shortly after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021. Brutal armed gangs, who together control virtually the entire area of ​​the capital Port-au-Prince, united in late February and demanded Henry’s resignation . The head of government subsequently did not return from a trip abroad. Many diplomats have now left Haiti. (rbu/sda/dpa)