The United Nations Security Council recently approved a resolution which will see foreign forces dispatched to help maintain order in Haiti. The decision, taken last Friday, is viewed as a major step forward in helping to stabilize the fragile Caribbean nation.
The foreign forces will be tasked with stabilizing the security situation, as well as providing logistical support and infrastructure to the nation. This force is expected to number between 10,000 to 15,000 soldiers and police. The force is set to be deployed in phases over the next several months.
The decision to send in the foreign forces comes after months of debate and discussion within the Security Council. Haiti has suffered from a lack of stability since an earthquake in January of 2010, which destroyed much of the country’s infrastructure. Efforts to rebuild the nation have been hindered by political turmoil and an ineffective governing body.
The Haitian government has welcomed the decision made by the Security Council. President Jocelerme Privert stated that the foreign forces will bring a “new dynamic of hope,” allowing theFragile nation to focus on development and progress instead of instability and violence.
The decision has been greeted with some trepidation in certain circles, however. The move to invite foreign forces into the sovereign territory of a nation is a controversial one and runs the risk of exacerbating the already fragile security situation.
At the same time, many Civil society groups in Haiti believe that this decision is necessary to bring stability and protect many vulnerable members of the population, such as women and children. Indeed, some observers have argued that sending in the foreign forces is the only viable option if the Haitian government is to get its act together and create a more secure situation for its citizens.
Ultimately, the decision to send foreign forces to Haiti is a necessary one if the nation is to move forward. With any luck, the forces sent to the Caribbean nation will help create an environment of stability and progress. At the very least, this move has shown the Security Council’s commitment to helping Haiti in its journey towards a more secure and prosperous future.
