New Countries Offer Troops, Engineers To Help Quash Haitian Gangs

Different countries have offered to deploy soldiers, engineers and police officers to help quash gangs in Haiti, according to a new report.

The Miami Herald noted that Chad and Bangladesh are among the countries that made the offer.

The development means that the force, approved by the UN Security Council, is now closer to reaching its target of 5,500 troops.

In a conference on Tuesday, Chad offered 1,500 soldiers, the outlet said, citing people familiar with the event. Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Burundi, also made commitments. Bangladesh also offered 1,500 officers, which would include help to secure the country's land and sea borders.

Kenya already has about 700 police officers on the ground, with the latest deployment making it to the Caribbean country this week.

There are now almost 1,000 foreign officers in Haiti, force spokesperson Jack Ombaka told Reuters. Jamaica, Belize, Guatemala, the Bahamas and El Salvador have also sent 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."