Guyana sets aside $123M in humanitarian aid for Haiti, CARICOM nations

In a move designed to show regional solidarity, the National Assembly on Wednesday approved $123 million in humanitarian aid for Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nations grappling with crises ranging from natural disasters to escalating violence. Haiti is included among the intended recipients.
In remarks he made at the 89th Sitting of the National Assembly, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd highlighted that the subvention coincides with Government’s support and efforts aimed at restoring regional stability.

Providing clarity on how this sum would be expended, Todd explained that most of this money would be dispatched to Haiti in aid, given that clashes between armed gangs, the police, and civilians armed with machetes has intensified in recent days. The remainder of this money would address the devastating impact of Hurricane Beryl, which has ravaged several small-island developing states (SIDS) in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) earlier this year.
“President Ali, who is also CARICOM’s lead on humanitarian efforts…we have undertaken, as a Government and people, to make a donation in kind to the Haitian people”, he said.
“Secondly, you’ll recall, Mr Speaker, that in June/July, we had the Category Four Hurricane Beryl, which had a devasting effect on OECS countries. Guyana stepped up as usual, and apart from sending support in terms of rebuilding efforts, we also made contributions to OECS countries; and that accounts for the sums you’re seeing there,” Todd detailed.
Just a few days ago, Heads of Government of Caribbean nations met in Guyana to discuss the issues of crime and gang violence in the region, including ongoing events in Hati.
Between 2019 and 2024, regional security budgets have increased by 154 per cent, redirecting substantial resources away from critical sectors, like healthcare and public services, ultimately depriving citizens of essential services.
According to a United Nations (UN) report, between January and March of this year, more than 2,500 people have been killed or wounded across Haiti, while at least 220 people, including 115 gang members, were killed in more than a dozen coordinated attacks between November 11 and 19. This violence has sent citizens into different parts of the country, further compounding the challenges of a shortage of food, water and other essential items faced by the people of Haiti.
Haiti, long plagued by political instability, is now battling an alarming surge in gang violence.

Recall of humanitarian support
The escalating violence in Haiti has also reportedly prompted the UN to evacuate its staff from Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince.
A recent news article published by Al Jazeera revealed that “a UN helicopter on Monday ferried evacuees – 14 at a time – from the capital to the northern city of Cap-Haitien, with some scheduled to take flights out of the country; and this comes after the main international airport in Port-au-Prince was closed due to commercial flights being hit by gunfire while landing and taking off earlier this month”.
The report further stated that Doctors Without Borders, known by its French initials MSF, also announced late last week that it was suspending critical care in Port-au-Prince, as it accused police of targeting its staff and patients, including with threats of rape and death.
Meanwhile, Food for the Poor (FFTP), which runs feeding programmes in Haiti, has said it would no longer be able to make regular deliveries of food because of gang disruptions, noting the closure of the airport and gang roadblocks that make access to the main seaports “extremely hazardous”. (G1)