AS HUMANITARIAN CRISIS WORSENS, MARKEY AND MCGOVERN LEAD BICAMERAL CALL FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN TO SUPPORT HAITI’S DEMOCRATIC ASPIRATIONS AND STABILITY

Washington (October 6, 2022) – As the de facto Haitian government fails to effectively address Haiti’s first cholera deaths in three years and escalating gang violence in Port-au-Prince, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and James P. McGovern (MA-02), Chair of the House Rules Committee, led their colleagues in a letter today to President Biden calling for the U.S. to support the Haitian people’s desire to realize their democratic aspirations. Since the assassination of President Moïse in July 2021, the Haitian government has been led by de facto Prime Minister Dr. Ariel Henry. Henry assumed his position following a power struggle with then-Prime Minister Claude Joseph and has no constitutional or popular mandate. In the past year, the nation’s security and humanitarian situations have worsened and criminal gangs continue to prevent the distribution of humanitarian assistance, including to the more than five million Haitians – accounting for half of Haiti’s population – who require food assistance. Additionally, parliamentary elections have not been held since 2016 and the Haitian Parliament was dissolved in 2020.

https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/as-humanitarian-crisis-worsens-markey-and-mcgovern-lead-bicameral-call-for-president-biden-to-support-haitis-democratic-aspirations-and-stability