Financing+of+the+United+Nations+Stabilization+Mission+in+Haiti



**Mission of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti**
 * Mission Statement:**

To facilitate the prompt return of the legitimate Haitian authorities, To maintain a secure and stable environment in the country, To promote the rule of law.


 * Mandate:**

MINUSTAH was originally set up in 2004 to support the Transitional Government in ensuring a secure and stable environment; to assist in monitoring, restructuring and reforming the Haitian National Police; to help with comprehensive and sustainable Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) programmes; to assist with the restoration and maintenance of the rule of law, public safety and public order in Haiti; to protect United Nations personnel, facilities, installations and equipment and to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence; to support the constitutional and political processes; to assist in organizing, monitoring, and carrying out free and fair municipal, parliamentary and presidential elections; to support the Transitional Government as well as Haitian human rights institutions and groups in their efforts to promote and protect human rights; and to monitor and report on the human rights situation in the country. It is of no question that MINUSTAH plays a integral role in the socio-economic development of Haiti and as such requires the careful consideration of all UN members when addressing the financial affairs of this mission.


 * Mission Progress:**

Throughout the period of the UN's involvement in Haiti, there were a number of positive developments, including the restoration of some measure of democracy, with the first peaceful handover of power between two democratically elected presidents; the growth of a multifaceted civil society; and its increasing involvement in the development of a political culture based on democratic values. There were, however, also setbacks. Owing to the continuing political crisis and concomitant lack of stability in the country, serious reforms never took hold.


 * Approved budget (1 July 2011 - 30 June 2012):** $793,517,100


 * Facts & Figures:**
 * 12,552 total uniformed personnel
 * 8,915 troops
 * 3,637 police (including formed units)
 * 572 international civilian personnel*
 * 1,345 local civilian staff*
 * 238 United Nations Volunteers


 * Ongoing Challenges: **


 * The Potential for more devastation. ** Last November, Category 1 Hurricane Tomas tore through parts of Haiti, taking the lives of seven and affecting more than 500,000 people in the west and south of the country. Many of the country’s 650,000 displaced are living in inadequate shelter and lack proper sanitation, clean drinking water, and latrines. Furthermore, floods in May 2011 claimed the lives of twenty-three and injured six. 1550 transitional shelters were damaged or destroyed by the water. Despite the UN’s efforts, the effects of natural disasters remain a concern.


 * Slow disbursement of reconstruction funding. ** On March 31, 2010, the UN and US co-chaired an International Donors Conference comprised of 140 member states in support of Haiti’s recovery plan. The international community pledged $5.3 billion for the next two years and $9.9 billion over 10 years. However, disbursement of funding has been slow due to fears of corruption and misuse. The UN Office of the Special Envoy for Haiti reports that only 36 percent of money pledged from top donors has been paid. That being said, over fifty NGOs in Haiti have received a total of $1.2 billion from American citizens and $1.5 billion from the U.S. Government.


 * A Cholera epidemic. ** More than 5,300 people have died from cholera in Haiti and over 321,000 have been affected by the outbreak. Recent flooding has contributed to the spike in recent cases. MINUSTAH is focusing on four main areas in this crisis: 1) health supplies for the cholera treatment centers; 2) sanitation, provision of clean water facilities, cholera beds that are purchased locally, rehydration salts, and other oral rehydration tablets; 3) face-to-face as well as media communication; and 4) training in various municipalities on how authorities can manage, transport, and bury bodies safely. In addition to this, MINUSTAH aims to rapidly increase the number of cholera treatment centers. UN agencies and their partners have secured $80.5 of the $175 million appeal to be used by the Cholera Inter-Sector Response Strategy for Haiti to bring additional doctors, medicines, and water purification equipment. Through these initiatives, 98 cholera treatment centers and 215 cholera treatment units are operational in Haiti and additional sites have been designated for future sites. With the help of the PAHO, WHO, UNICEF and Ministry of Health, over 900,000 vaccinations have been administered to the most vulnerable populations in 500 cities.


 * A Crime. ** A widening economic gap in post-earthquake Haiti has led to social fragility and continued violence, especially in IDP camps and against women. Crime remains extremely commonplace in large urban communities such as Port-au-Prince, where MINUSTAH deployed over 2,000 peacekeepers last month to disrupt criminal activity. Despite an observed trend of increased faith in Haitian police forces, crime jeopardizes security across the country while coordinated efforts between UN agencies and local authorities struggle to bring rule of law to all of Haiti.

Source: http://www.betterworldcampaign.org/un-peacekeeping/missions/haiti.html

__Emphasizes__ the urgency associated with the uninterrupted funding of United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) in order to maintain the United Nation's support in helping the nation of haiti with the implementation of comprehensive and sustainable Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) programmes.

__Calls upon__ all UN member to grant the implementation of the United Nations Missions Inspection Agency (UNMIA) which will aim to investigate the alleged reports of sexual abuse committed by MINUSTAH troops, (including sexual coercion of minors; as well as threats of death, physical harm and sexual violence against Haitian civilians made by the troops), in order to further ensure the UN's holistic view of the mission when addressing the financing of MINUSTAH.

__Declares accordingly__ that the financing of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) is perhaps the most efficient and reliable method of assisting the nation of Haiti with: a. monitoring, restructuring and reforming the Haitian National Police b. the restoration and maintenance of the rule of law, public safety and public order in Haiti c. supporting the constitutional and political processes d. monitoring and reporting on the human rights situation in the country