Approximately 70 members of the Canadian Armed Forces left for Jamaica on Saturday at the request of the Jamaican government.
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At their destination, they will participate in the training of military personnel from Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries, who will eventually travel to Haiti as part of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MMAS) led by Kenya and authorized by the ‘UN.
Remember that in February, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly announced an investment of $80.5 million to support the deployment of the MMAS.
“I would like to thank the members of the Canadian Armed Forces for their dedication and support for the successful deployment of the MSS mission, a crucial step in the restoration of security, public order and democracy in Haiti », declared Minister Joly in a press release.
The Canadian Armed Forces will notably provide training relating to peacekeeping and combat first aid.
Their deployment is expected to last approximately a month and is mainly composed of the 1st Battalion of the Royal 22e Régiment in Valcartier.
“Canada is determined to support the Haitian people, who are working to create a peaceful and more prosperous future,” assured Bill Blair, Minister of National Defense.
According to the UN, the situation in Haiti is currently “cataclysmic”, with 1,554 killed in the first three months of 2024.
Haiti has been gripped by renewed violence since the beginning of the month. The country was already going through a deep political and security crisis.
Several gangs joined forces to attack strategic locations in Port-au-Prince, saying they wanted to overthrow Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
The Canadian Armed Forces estimate that they will help train approximately 330 CARICOM troops from the Bahamas, Belize and Jamaica.