Ottawa increases Haiti sanctions, police funding at summit aimed at solving crisis

Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly announces more support for Haiti as neighboring countries say they hope the Caribbean country can overcome a serious political and humanitarian crisis.

Canada adds two former senators to the list of sanctioned Haitian elites accusing Ottawa of supporting gangs, bringing the total to 21 people.

Ottawa is also adding $40 million to its law enforcement funding as Canada and the US focus on supporting the work of the Haitian National Police as they try to prevent gangs from committing brutal violence and control critical infrastructure.

Joly has called a meeting of ministers from Haiti and countries concerned about the gangs that have filled a power vacuum following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse two years ago.

The United Nations representative in the country noted that recent earthquakes and floods have exacerbated instability, hunger and a cholera outbreak.

The Jamaican government says Canadian and US-funded efforts to get Haitian leaders to find a political solution to the crisis have found some momentum, but Haiti may still need the international military intervention it called for last fall. had asked.