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Honduran President Xiomara Castro has proposed the creation of a financial support fund for Haiti, aimed at addressing the country’s ongoing political and humanitarian crisis. Castro, who currently holds the rotating presidency of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), made the proposal as part of CELAC’s efforts to assist Haiti.
The proposed fund, which would come into effect in March 2025, was initially introduced during Castro’s speech at the 77th UN General Assembly in September. She emphasized the need for regional and global cooperation to help stabilize Haiti. According to Honduran Vice Foreign Minister Gerardo Torres, the fund would be administered by the United Nations and would allow external partners, including the European Union, African Union, China, Turkey, India, and Arab countries, to contribute directly to the initiative.
The goal is to institutionalize the fund under the UN’s administration, ensuring that it continues to support Haiti regardless of changes in CELAC’s leadership. A meeting with external partners is scheduled for February 2025 in Tegucigalpa, where the terms of cooperation will be further discussed. The proposal is set to be formalized in March when CELAC’s pro tempore presidency transitions to Colombia.
Haiti has been facing a severe socio-economic and political crisis, exacerbated by violence from armed gangs. The humanitarian situation is particularly dire for children, with UNICEF estimating that over three million children in Haiti currently require assistance.
