President William Ruto’s National Security Advisor Ambassador Monica Juma has announced that there is sufficient funds in the United Nations Trust Fund to continue funding the Kenyan-led multinational security support mission in Haiti.
In a statement on Wednesday, February 5, Juma said there is approximately $110M (14 billion) in the trust fund contributed by other nations.
She noted that the peace mission in Haiti is a priority despite the US government pausing funding of Ksh1.7 billion.
“It is true the U.S. contribution to the UN Trust Fund for MSS Haiti is on pause, affecting about $15M in support. It is also true that the MSS mission is a priority and a beneficiary of the waiver. Meanwhile, there are sufficient funds in the UN Trust Fund for Haiti from other countries (approx.. $110M) to continue operations,” said Juma.
President Donald Trump’s freeze on foreign aid includes support for the Kenya-led international mission to Haiti, which seeks to help local troops fight the gangs that have taken over most of the capital and continue to wreak havoc across the country.
The Miami Herald reported on Wednesday that the 90-day halt on foreign assistance includes $15 million for the Multinational Security Support mission, whose members claim efforts are already widely underfunded, even counting money from the U.S.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned in late January, even before the freezing was announced, that the city could be completely overrun without further international support.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said during his visit to Latin America over the past days that the decision answers to the need to “review those programs.”
He highlighted that there is a waiver for humanitarian programs, including those providing medications for diseases like HIV/AIDS.
