A contingent of hundreds of Kenyan police officers arrived in Haiti, the first deployment of forces since the UN Security Council approved expanding the existing force to fight the gangs that control most of the capital and large swaths of the country.
There are now almost 1,000 foreign officers in Haiti, force spokesperson Jack Ombaka told Reuters. The new force is authorized to deploy up to 5,500 personnel, but considering contributions are voluntary, they have been slow to happen, the outlet added. A pledging conference is expected to take place in New York this month.
Kenya has sent by far the most people to Haiti, with Jamaica, Belize, Guatemala, the Bahamas and El Salvador also sending personnel.
Earlier this month the force named Jack Christofides as special representative for the force. He has been described as a longtime UN expert on peace building who has worked in complex security environments around the world.
Godrfrey Otunge, who leads the U.S.-backed force, said the man "brings experience in political affairs, peace-building and operational leadership, which will be instrumental in guiding the GSF's efforts to address Haiti's security crisis and lay the groundwork for sustainable peace."
In the meantime, attacks by gangs continue. The outlet noted that a group recently attacked Pont-Sondé, a rural town in central Haiti, forcing thousands to flee the neighborhood as homes burned. At least 10 people died during the attack.
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