UNSC to act quickly and strongly in sending more troops to Haiti
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French UN Ambassador Gerard Araud said on Monday that the UN Security Council "will act very quickly and very strongly" in deploying extra forces to aid in Haiti's recovery and strengthen the UN Mission in Haiti, known as MINUSTAH.
This statement came as Araud was speaking to reporters at the UN Headquarters in New York after the 15-nation Council was briefed by UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon on his Sunday visit to Haiti and his latest assessment of the situation in the Caribbean country.
A resolution is expected to be approved by the Council in the coming hours for the call to increase more troops and forces for Haiti.
"We will act very quickly and very strongly," he said of the deployment of an additional 1,500 UN police officers and 2,000 troops in the Haiti mission, as recommended by Ban during his briefing.
The secretary-general asked the 15-nation Council to raise the number of UN police officers and troops in the Haiti mission after his one-day visit to the quake-hit country.
It is important to "look at the near future in providing aid," Araud said as the increased military presence in Haiti is meant to provide support to the Haitian government.
"Our job is not take over, but to support it," Araud said. "Our contingent, which is making a great job, is already a bit outstretched."
In response to a UN call, France decided on Monday to provide 10 million euros (14.3 million U.S. dollars) to Haiti. "France decided to respond to the urgent call for Haiti launched by the United Nations on Jan. 16 through a contribution of 10 million euros," Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said in a statement.
With the new pledge, France's assistance to Haiti amounted to around 20 million euros (28.6 million U.S. dollars), according to a government statement.
Kouchner also said Monday that an international conference for Haiti's reconstruction will take place on Jan. 25 in Haiti.
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