IN LIGHT OF ESCALATING TURMOIL, HAITI BEGS FOR INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AID.

Widespread discontent over the lack of essential items is plaguing Haiti, which has warned of a potential "humanitarian disaster." The US embassy has issued an expulsion warning to its people. In a letter signed by Prime Minister Ariel Henry on Friday, Haitian officials asked for international security aid while expressing concern about "the danger of a severe humanitarian disaster."

The paper gave Henry the go-ahead to ask for foreign soldiers to assist in containing the nation's escalating anarchy.

Henry called for the "rapid deployment of a specialized armed force, in adequate numbers," in order to address the problem of "armed gangs' criminal activities.

It wasn't immediately apparent if the request had been made formally or from which nation Haiti was looking for help.

The Haitian government has not yet officially requested anything, the United Nations said on Friday.

According to UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, "We remain extremely worried about the security situation in Haiti, the effect it's having on the Haitian people, and the impact it's having on our capacity to perform our work, notably in the humanitarian area."

The government is "waiting on the international community and the international partners to decide what type of shape that help will take," said Bocchit Edmond, Haiti's ambassador to the United States, to AFP.

In response to a "human catastrophe," the ambassador further stated that international aid does not constitute an "occupation" of Haiti but rather a "call to solidarity."

On Friday, the US Embassy in Port-au-Prince warned US citizens to leave Haiti, citing "ongoing insecurity" brought on by a lack of food and gasoline. The embassy claimed that the US government's capacity to offer emergency services to US nationals in Haiti is "very constrained."

Why Is Haiti In Such A Chaotic State?

Lack of fuel has had a knock-on impact on the availability of medical supplies and other necessities.

A lack of drinkable water has also caused a new cholera epidemic.

In July 2021, the late President Jovenel Moise was slain at home for reasons that are still not apparent. In the 15 months following Moise's passing, the security situation in Haiti significantly deteriorated.

Gangs have shut off Varreux, the capital's petroleum port, which has slowed supply and led to shortages. Looting and protests against Ariel Henry's administration, which has been in place for more than a year, have been occurring recently.

To discuss the upheaval sweeping the nation, OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Haiti's Foreign Minister Jean Victor Geneus, and others on Thursday.