US adds aid, "urgent" appoints new ambassador; Switzerland evacuates diplomatic staff

The US has just announced an additional $25 million in humanitarian aid to Haiti, bringing the total aid Washington has allocated to Latin America's poorest country since October 2022 to about $170 million.

Khủng hoảng Haiti: Người dân biểu tình đòi Thủ tướng từ chức, Mỹ 'ra tay', LHQ hối HĐBA hành động khẩn. AP

Haitians protest as the country's crisis worsens. (Source: AP)

On March 15, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said that the United States, along with United Nations agencies and many non- governmental organizations, are assisting more than 1.5 million Haitian citizens.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby stressed Washington's commitment to facilitating a "smooth and credible transition" so that Haiti's new government can truly represent the people and care for their interests.

Earlier in the day, the US Senate confirmed the appointment of Foreign Policy Advisor to the Pentagon's National Guard Office, Mr. Denis Hankins, as the new Ambassador to Haiti.

Mr. Hankins has 38 years of experience in the State Department and served as US Ambassador to Mali, as well as other assignments in Sudan.

A source in Washington said Mr Hankins' appointment was made "urgently" due to concerns that gangs would overthrow any transitional government established in Haiti.

Also on March 15, the Dominican Republic announced that it had reached an agreement with Haiti to establish a humanitarian corridor to evacuate Dominican Republic citizens, diplomatic staff from many countries, and members of several international organizations.

Previously, on March 14, members of the Swiss diplomatic mission in Haiti evacuated safely to the Dominican Republic.

The Canadian government also announced that it would reduce its diplomatic presence in Haiti due to the security crisis. Canada’s embassy in Port-au-Prince had already “temporarily” closed.

Armed gangs looted and set fire to the home of the Director General of the Haitian National Police, invaded and vandalized a century-oldeducational facility at the University of Haiti, and burned the National Prison…

The government of the Latin American country announced the extension of the curfew imposed in the western region of the country until March 17 to restore order and take additional measures to regain control of the situation in the capital.

Previously, Haiti declared a state of emergency in the western region from March 7 to April 3, and banned all protests.

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