Haiti: a Canadian military plane to help fight against gangs

UPDATE DAY

Canada has deployed a patrol aircraft to Haiti to assist authorities in their fight against armed gang violence in the Caribbean country, Ottawa announced on Sunday. 

The aircraft, a Canadian Air Force CP-140 Aurora long-range patrol aircraft with intelligence and surveillance capabilities, will support efforts “to destabilize operations gangs in Haiti,” the Canadian Departments of Defense and Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Ottawa emphasizes that its assistance “to address the precarious security situation in Haiti and to support the national police of Haiti” is provided “in response to the country's request for assistance”, while “violence continues to escalate” on Haitian territory.

The device is already operational in the region, but Ottawa does not specify the duration of its mission.

Canada will “continue to support the Haitian people and c look for ways to help it get out of this crisis,” adds Ottawa, recalling in particular that the Canadian government has “also imposed sanctions on those responsible for the current violence, including the Haitian elites who favor gangs.” < /p>

Armed gangs control much of Haiti and the UN was alarmed in late January that “gang-related violence has reached levels not seen in decades”.