US top diplomat says backs international mission in Haiti

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00:00The US has committed $41 million in aid to bolster state security in Haiti.

00:05The Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, issued a waiver to approve the funds, backtracking

00:10on President Trump's recent freeze on virtually all foreign aid programs.

00:14Speaking in the Dominican Republic, Rubio said it was important to eliminate armed gangs

00:19which control over 80% of the capital, Port-au-Prince.

00:23Unfortunately, today much of that territory is controlled by dangerous, well-armed gangs

00:29and that has to be dealt with.

00:31That's why the first objective is to pacify and put an end to that situation.

00:36And at this moment, the only option is the current mission and we will continue to support it.

00:43Rubio's comments come as around 200 Kenyan police officers arrived in Haiti to shore

00:48up security.

00:49They arrived in Port-au-Prince as part of an ongoing UN-approved mission, adding to

00:54the 600 other Kenyans already working alongside Haitian national police.

00:59We are engaged in a battle between good and evil, because a gang that kills children and

01:07rapes others is evil.

01:10We in the government and our international partners who are helping us have decided to

01:15put an end to insecurity and it won't be for long.

01:23Haiti's foreign minister recently commended the efforts but asked the UN to transform

01:27this security mission into a peacekeeping one, with a clear mandate, adequate resources

01:32and increased expertise.

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