Godfrey Otunge a Senior Assistant Inspector General (SAIG) who is currently leading the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission has affirmed that Haitians have started returning from abroad. Otunge reported this while updating the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees delegation on the status of MSS since their arrival in June 2024.
Otunge while updating the delegation, pointed out some of the successes MSS has made, underscoring the slow return to normalcy in some pacified areas in PaP. In the statement, Otunge hinted at the status of MSS since their arrival in June 2024.
“He indicated that the sustained targeted and decisive security operations in Downtown, Delmas, and at the National Port have borne fruit,” Otunge’s statement read in part.
At the same time, he also pointed out a notable increase in both domestic and international flights in Haiti, with many Haitians in the diaspora either coming back or showing signs and readiness to come back.
On the recent extension of the MSS mandate to October 2025, Otunge observed that the move was timely.
He then called upon other contributing countries who are yet to deploy to do so promptly to enable MSS to reach its optimum operational capabilities.
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Normalcy as Haitians Return
Otunge stressed that day and night patrols have been sustained with the main target areas, the Autorité Portuaire Nationale (APN) port, among others.
Moreover, he observed that their cordial working relationship with Haitian National Police (HNP) police was instrumental in the successes recorded. He pointed out that activities had resumed normal at the Police Academy, where recruits are currently undergoing training with MSS officers providing static security and patrols.
Notably, this is the first MSS Forward Operating Base (FOB) to be established.
Raouf Mazou, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Assistant High Commissioner for Operations appreciated the MSS achievements within this short time.
At the same time, Mazou pointed out that UNHCR would want to be felt in Haiti, especially during this Mission. He observed that UNHCR activities and roles are going to be upscaled in Haiti. Engagements with the populations are expected to increase as the Mission advances.
Furthermore, he emphasized that UNHCR is ready to work and assist the Haitian government. Mazou stressed the need for MSS to closely work with HNP, as spelled out in the mandate.
He then cited that HNP was instrumental in archiving the MSS endgame, which is to enable a conducive and secure environment for free, fair, and democratic election processes to take place in Haiti.
He promised to engage more with MMS indicating that the United Nations (UN) was keen on this Mission given its unique nature.
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The MSS Delegation
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees delegation from Geneva on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, was received by MSS leadership in their Headquarters at Logistics Support Area 2.
The delegation was led by Raouf Mazou, UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Operations accompanied by Jose Xavier Samaniego who is the Regional Director for the Americas in UNHCR.
Also among the team were Shoko Shimozawa, Director-Emergency, Security, and Supply, and Salaton Leteipan. Godfrey Otunge and Colonel. Kevron Henry.
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