Sawt Falasteen - Brazil's Lula urges world to act 'rapidly' on crisis-torn Haiti

Haiti, the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, has been in turmoil for years with armed gangs taking over parts of the country and unleashing brutal violence that has left its economy and public health system in tatters.

In recent weeks, the country has also been engulfed in widespread unrest as thousands of people took to the streets to demand Prime Minister Ariel Henry step down in line with a political agreement forged in December 2022.

"In Haiti we need to act quickly to alleviate the suffering of a population torn apart by tragedy," Lula said in an address to a summit of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in Georgetown, Guyana.

On Tuesday, the UN launched an appeal for $674 million for humanitarian projects in Haiti, where 45 percent of the population is now food insecure.

In January alone, more than 1,100 people were killed, injured or kidnapped, according to the UN.

On Wednesday, the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, told reporters "we have made a lot of progress" in talks at the CARICOM summit, and Henry had "committed to serve as an honest broker and to share power."

Under a deal concluded in December 2022, more than a year after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise, Haiti was supposed to hold elections and Henry cede power to newly elected officials by February 7, 2024.

But he has remained in power, and an aide has said the prime minister intended to form a government of national unity.

A power-sharing arrangement could enter into force "within a short period of time," said Browne.

It is not the first time, however, that Henry has made a similar promise. The last time was on January 1, in a speech to mark Haiti's 220th independence anniversary.

Asked about an election date, Browne said it could be set "possibly within the next 12 months."

- 'Moral obligation' -

Haiti, a nation of about 12 million people, has not gone to the polls since 2016.

At the Caribbean summit, which ends Wednesday, it was announced this week that Benin is mulling a 2,000-strong troop contribution to a UN security mission to Haiti.

Kenya has agreed to lead the mission, but it has been held up for months over logistics issues, a legal challenge in Nairobi, and funding shortfalls.

Browne said Wednesday that CARICOM expected more of a contribution from Western powers, former colonial ruler France in particular.

"There is at least a... moral obligation to provide leadership in resolving this issue and not to have, let's say, a group of developing countries bearing all the sacrifice of loss of lives," he said.

"I think France, more so than any other country, has an obligation to help to restore peace and stability within Haiti," added Browne.

V.Said--SF-PST