OAS warns Haiti needs help as it prepares to hold elections for the first time since 2016

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — The Organization of American States (OAS) warned Haiti needs assistance as it prepares to hold general elections for the first time since 2016. Secretary General Albert Ramdin stressed the country's necessity of aid in combating gangs and reclaiming territory during his recent trip to the nation.

Ramdin met with Haiti's Prime Minister and other officials, emphasizing the crucial role of the U.N.-backed gang suppression force in enhancing security and public safety for a safe electoral process. He highlighted the need for visible and measurable progress in this regard.

The OAS secretary general also stressed the importance of securing key routes to the international airport and restoring safe access to Haiti's southern region, as gangs currently control these vital pathways into and out of the capital. He called for a faster voter registration and identification process prior to the Dec. 13 elections, as Haiti has not had a president since the assassination of Jovenel Moïse in July 2021.

Gang violence has surged since Moïse's death, displacing a record 1.5 million people. Ramdin pledged to continue mobilizing political, technical, and financial support for Haiti. Additionally, the OAS intends to collaborate with the Pan American Health Organization to construct trauma centers for wounded Haitian police officers as they continue their efforts to overcome gang control over approximately 70% of Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas.

Ramdin also mentioned setting up a delegation of business leaders to discuss potential investment projects in Haiti, where poverty, hunger, and unemployment are escalating.