united Nations - Haiti Observer Blog

If there is one thing the people of Mali should know about UN as they are getting ready to welcome the new UN force in their country is that the UN is a minor and can not be held responsible for his act.

The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) was established by UN Security Council on April25, 2013. As it is the case in Haiti with MINUSTAH, MINUSMA in Mali has for objective to stabilize the country.

I would like to bring the attention of the Malian people to one thing. "The UN does no wrong and can not do wrong". This is true even if the entire world thinks otherwise.

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Is he trying to say that Haiti is a basket case and that nothing worth while can be accomplished there?

You can interpret however you want, however Uruguay president Jose Mujica no longer wants to take any part in this mess.

He said recently that he plans to remove his country's nearly 1,000 peacekeeping troops from Haiti.

According to an interview on a local TV station, President Jose Mujica stated that he made that decision because of the lack of democratic progress in Haiti.

Let me tell you Mr. the President "You can never change Haiti". "Haiti will change you, or at least your conception as to what is logic"

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Things are not getting any better in term of the cholera outbreak. After Haiti, Dominican republic and Cuba, this time Mexico seems to be next winner of the cholera epidemic awarded by the United Nations.

There is a warning from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) that the Cholera illness could spread worldwide.

As you know, investigations have revealed that the origin of the outbreak of cholera in Haiti to leaking sewage at a camp for UN soldiers from Nepal. Supporters of the victims have tried to sue the UN, so far: "Nad marinad". This year, representative from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said "petition for compensation was "not receivable" under a 1947 convention which grants the UN immunity for its actions.

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In a bold move, Haitian Prime Minister Lamothe took the UN to task regarding its culpability in the outbreak of cholera in Haiti, following the 2010 earthquake. He cited the statistics of nearly 9,000 Haitians, who lost their lives to cholera, with another 600,000 or more critically ill.

He made his appearance before the UN General Assembly to specifically confront the issue and ask the UN to step up its efforts to help Haiti stamp out "the world's worst cholera outbreak". To his credit, Lamothe made a proposal to create a joint commission to investigate the methods and applications that would absolutely end the epidemic for good.

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Amidst continued denial by the United Nations and its representatives of their culpability in the devastating cholera outbreak that ravaged what was left of Haiti after the destruction caused by the 2010 earthquake, they remain vocal about their intent to help the country eliminate the illness, from the position of unassociated good samaritan. Taking this stance, the U.N. has said it is prepared to help Haiti fight the epidemic and promised to do so by raising, at every possible opportunity, the $450 million it will need to keep this promise. The problem is that, following the announcement made in the latter part of 2012 by the U.N.'s General Secretary, Ban Ki-moon, less than half of the needed amount has actually been raised, while cholera is still alive and claiming lives in Haiti. The hope which a planned donor meeting of the highest level to raise funds was to bring has been put on hold until 2014.

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The peacekeeping mission of the United Nations in Haiti is a creature that is used to constant change. The newest of which is the appointment of a new head for the operation, Sandra Honore, who took up her post recently. The title is that of Head of the United Nations Stabilization Mission (MINUSTAH) as well as the UN's Special Representative to Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations Secretary General and her appointment was made at the end of May, 2013. The mission had its start in Haiti back in 2004 after embattled former Haitian President, Jean-Bertrand Aristide was unseated in a violent coup that greatly upset the stability of the nation.

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U.S. Congress member, Maxine Waters, recently sent UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, a letter signed by 18 congressional members, regarding the UN's inadequate response to the cholera epidemic in Haiti.

Waters targeted several issues concerning the UN's handling of the epidemic. Overall, Congress is disappointed at the slow pace of recovery, with the UN spending only $23.5 million dollars, or 1% of the $2.2 billion, required by the Hispaniola Initiative. The funding initiative has as its goals making decontaminated drinking water more available, building more sanitation-treatment centers, and ending the epidemic over the next decade.

Ban Ki-moon countered the charges, claiming the UN has provided $140 million-plus dollars in proactively treating victims of the epidemic over three years. He says the level of infection has been lowered 90%, and the death toll stands at only 1% currently.

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Congresswoman Maxine Waters requested United Nations Secretary General, Honorable Ban Ki-moon to use his influence and his office to make United Nations take the responsibility for cholera introduction in Haiti. This request was sent using a letter that was signed by 19 Congress Members. The letter expressed concerns about the inadequacy of progress made in effectively dealing with cholera epidemic in Haiti. Maxine Waters, through her letter, requested Ban Ki-moon to make United Nation commit towards providing necessary efforts and resources required for supporting the efforts made in response to the cholera epidemic. It is to be noted that Congresswoman Maxine Waters is a very strong advocate of the people of Haiti in U.S. Congress.

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In a new twist to Haitian politics, former President Rene Preval claimed that United Nations attempted to remove him from the post of the head of state before his term was over. He said that the previous head of UN mission in Haiti called his and said that because of the political problems, he must give up the post of the President. Preval said that he received the call in November 2010 on the day of internationally sponsored elections.

Rene Preval claims that Edmond Mulet who was heading the MINUSTAH, called him and said that because of the political problems, he must be evacuated by a plane. To this, Preval replied by saying that he Edmond Mulet must bring the plane to his palace and handcuff him and evacuate so that people can see that their president was being kidnapped.

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Sandra Honore, a diplomat from Trinidad and Tobago will be spearheading the United Nations' Peacekeeping Mission in Haiti. This announcement was made by Secretary General of United Nations, Ban Ki-moon. This announcement from the Secretary General of United Nations came on the first weekend of June.

Sandra Honore is the successor of Mariano Fernandez, the previous head of United Nations' Peacekeeping Mission in Haiti. Since the departure of Mariano Fernandez, the position of Acting Head of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Haiti has been served by Nigel Fisher.

Sandra Honore has a respectable diplomatic career since 1979 and has severed in various diplomatic posts including positions in Costa Rica, Brazil and United States of America. Along with the announcement of the new head of MINUSTAH, United Nations' Secretary General Ban Ki-moon once again thanked previous head of United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti, Mariano Fernandez for leadership and sheer determination during the critical days of Haiti. He also praised Mariano's role in smooth government transition in Haiti and the role he played for dealing with the challenging situations of national security of the Republic of Haiti.

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