FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

March 8, 2024

MEDIA CONTACT: 

e: brian.phillips@mail.house.gov

c: 202.913.0126

Washington, D.C. — Today, Reps. Yvette D. Clarke, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, and Ayanna Pressley, Co-Chairs of the Haiti Caucus, issued the following on Haiti’s State of Emergency and the urgent need for a Multinational Security Support Mission and humanitarian assistance.

“The time has come for Prime Minister Ariel Henry to do what is right for the Haitian people. He should not return to Haiti, and he should immediately hand over power to a transitional consensus government. It is crucial that all parties in Haiti urgently put aside their differences and form a transitional government that does not include Ariel Henry, criminals and/or associated organizations. No one’s personal ambition is worth the blood of innocent Haitian lives.

“We continue to be deeply concerned by the deteriorating situation in Haiti. At least 80% of Port-au-Prince is under the control of the gangs, while de facto Prime Minister Ariel Henry is out of the country and has no credibility to lead. Last year alone, there were nearly 5,000 murders, 2,000 kidnappings, and more than 310,000 people who have been internally displaced. Gangs are routinely using sexual violence and have threatened to start a civil war. Enough is enough.

“We urge our colleagues in Congress to join the Biden-Harris Administration and the international community in funding urgent assistance to restore security for the Haitian people. Every day we wait for this critical funding, more Haitians will die. The clock is ticking.”

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