US to deliver 24 more armored vehicles to Kenyan police in Haiti

The force includes about 400 Kenyan police and is approved by the United Nations to fight armed gangs that have taken over much of the Haitian capital.

Kenyan police officers stand side by side during a joint operation with Haitian Police, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti July 29, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Jean Feguens Regala

The mission was requested by Haiti in 2022, and while several countries have pledged to send more than 2,500 troops, only Kenyan forces have actually arrived. The US Southern Command (SouthCom) said it would send the armored vehicles to the Haitian capital's main airport via US Air Force C-17 transport aircraft.

In addition, the US also sent 34 sets of turrets to be mounted on armored vehicles, helping to increase observation and response capabilities in joint operations with Haitian police.

Kenyan forces had to withdraw from the Haitian town of Ganthier in late July because the first armored vehicles provided by the US did not have turrets, making it impossible for troops to fight effectively from inside the vehicles.

The violence in Ganthier has displaced nearly 6,000 people. To date, nearly 600,000 people in Haiti have been displaced by the conflict, and hundreds of thousands of those who have been deported back to Haiti are suffering from severe poverty. The mission is expected to end in October.

Cao Phong (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/my-se-chuyen-giao-them-24-xe-boc-thep-cho-canh-sat-kenya-o-haiti-post309096.html