Haiti

The Haitian city of Cap Haïtien is now calm after several days of riots linked to the cholera outbreak in the Caribbean country, and two United Nations agencies have resumed relief operations in the city, the world body’s humanitarian arm reported today.

The United Nations mission in Haiti has deplored yesterday’s acts of violence against local and UN security forces during demonstrations in the cities of Cap-Haitien and Hinche, saying the riots, which resulted in several injuries, were politically motivated.

At least one man has been shot dead in clashes with UN peacekeepers in Haiti. UN troops fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators who were throwing stones and blocking roads in Cap Haitien.

Protesters throwing rocks and bottles lashed out against the Haitian government and United Nations peacekeepers in Haiti's second largest city Monday, venting fear and anger over a cholera epidemic that many Haitians believe came from foreigners.

The Security Council today voted to extend the mandate of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Haiti until 15 October 2011, while underlining the significance of next month’s presidential and legislative polls in laying the foundation for a stable political environment in the impoverished Caribbean nation.

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Haiti today voiced concern at reports that arms are being distributed as the impoverished and earthquake-devastated country prepares to hold elections next month.

Eight months after the catastrophic earthquake, Haiti has fended off a second-wave disaster of epidemics and unrest, but the impoverished nation’s political, social and economic situation will remain fragile, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says in a new report.

Haiti’s police force is becoming substantially more effective, capturing and arresting a series of suspects accused of recent kidnappings and sending a clear signal to criminal elements, the United Nations peacekeeping mission to the Caribbean country says.

The humanitarian needs of people affected by January’s earthquake in Haiti remain immense, United Nations agencies and their partners said today in a report, which also takes stock of the response effort and presents lessons learned from the challenging and complex emergency.

Haitian President René Préval has set 28 November as the date for the people of the earthquake-devastated nation to vote for his successor.