On Friday, the US Army delivered 24 armored vehicles to Kenyan police in Haiti, arriving at Port-au-Prince’s main airport via a US Air Force C-17 cargo aircraft on August 23.
These Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles were sent after the Kenyan team, part of a 400-officer UN-approved mission to combat heavily armed gangs, voiced concerns over resource shortages.
The mission, requested by Haiti’s government in 2022, has seen limited international support, with Kenya being the only country to have deployed officers so far.
The new vehicles, equipped with turrets for improved combat capability, join an initial delivery of 10 MRAPs by the US.
Additionally, the US supplied 34 Overhead Gunner Protection Kits, which contractors will install to enhance the vehicles’ effectiveness.
The Kenyan police had previously withdrawn from Ganthier, a town near Port-au-Prince, after facing intense clashes with gangs, partly due to the lack of such equipment.
Gang violence in Haiti has displaced approximately 600,000 people, with millions facing severe hunger.
The arrival of these vehicles and upcoming reinforcements from other nations like Jamaica and the Bahamas are expected to bolster the ongoing security operation.
Despite progress, Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille has expressed concern over delays in funding, warning that this could jeopardize the mission’s success and the credibility of the transitional government.
He emphasized the need for quick action to secure the nation ahead of the upcoming general elections.
