SANTO DOMINGO (CMC)

Dominican Republic Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez has reiterated his appeal to the international community to help Haiti deal with the violence that is gripping the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nation.

“I make this call again to the international community to provide assistance to the Haitian National Police, so that they can resolve the climate of violence,” said Alvarez in a recent interview.

According to Alvarez, “without a resolution of that aspect it is impossible to carry out not only a general election, not even a distribution of vaccines in an effective way or fuel (…) How can any foreign investment be considered under circumstances like these?”.

He noted that the situation in neighbouring Haiti that shares the islands of Hispaniola, is putting “great pressure on public services in the Dominican Republic, primarily”.

Last October, Haitian Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, requested the dispatch of a foreign force to deal with the situation, following the appeal, UN Secretary General António Guterres proposed the establishment of a “rapid action force” with military personnel from one or more countries and not under the UN flag, but to date the international community has failed to respond.

Across Haiti, armed gangs have taken control of most of the country, generating violence that has forced thousands of people to flee their homes.

In the midst of this upheaval , cholera has re-emerged , leading to at least 600 deaths since last October.