The US has frozen more than $13 million (Sh1.7 billion) in funding for the Kenya-led multinational security mission in Haiti under President Donald Trump’s 90-day foreign aid pause, the United Nations confirmed on Tuesday.
“The US had committed $15 million to the trust fund; $1.7 million of that had already been spent, so $13.3 million is now frozen,” UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters.
“We received an official notification from the US asking for an immediate stop work order on their contribution.”
The Kenya-led mission, deployed to help restore order in Haiti’s gang-controlled capital, Port-au-Prince, was approved by the UN Security Council but is not a UN operation.
It remains dependent on voluntary contributions, which have so far been limited. More than $110 million has been deposited into the UN trust fund supporting the mission — over half of it from Canada.
The fund itself was created at Washington’s insistence to encourage member states to contribute, but many countries remain hesitant, citing donor fatigue.
