U.S. Lawmakers Unveil New Bill to Address Haiti's Crisis

(MENAFN) A bipartisan pair of U.S. lawmakers unveiled new legislation on Wednesday aimed at addressing the escalating humanitarian and security crisis in Haiti.

Representatives Gregory Meeks and Greg Murphy introduced the Strategy to Address Key Priorities Affecting Security and Empowerment in Haiti Act (the SAK PASE Act), which mandates the U.S. State Department to create and implement a detailed strategy to tackle Haiti's worsening instability and support a Haitian-led recovery effort.

"The level of human suffering in Haiti is completely unacceptable, and we need a comprehensive strategy to address it," Meeks emphasized in a statement.

Murphy echoed the sentiment, stressing that both Haitian and broader Caribbean security directly impacts American national security.

The legislation stipulates that Secretary of State Marco Rubio must present a thorough plan to Congress within 90 days of the act's passage. This plan would focus on curbing the rampant gang violence and working toward stability in the Caribbean nation.

Haiti has endured years of escalating gang violence and political unrest, which spiraled further after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021.

Efforts to combat the gangs, including a Kenyan-led multinational force authorized by the UN, have so far proven ineffective. Currently, an estimated 90% of Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, is under the control of criminal organizations.

The United Nations has reported that approximately 5.5 million Haitians will require humanitarian aid in 2024, a sharp increase from the 5.2 million in 2023.

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