OAS Secretary General Launches ‘Group of Friends of Haiti’

In a renewed effort to tackle Haiti’s deepening crisis, the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Albert Ramdin, convened the inaugural meeting of the Group of Friends of Haiti in the Hall of the Americas.

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The group, comprising key international partners, aims to coordinate support and craft a unified response to Haiti’s ongoing political, security, and humanitarian challenges.

The platform was created to promote informal information sharing and alignment among stakeholders working on the ground in Haiti. It comes at a time when the country faces spiraling insecurity, widespread humanitarian need, and institutional breakdowns.

Secretary General Ramdin shared progress on the development of a comprehensive Roadmap for Haiti, mandated by OAS General Assembly Resolution 3039. The roadmap is being created in consultation with the Haitian government, the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), and the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission.

“The Roadmap is grounded in the belief that restoring Haiti’s stability requires a clear and unified strategy, one that promotes Haitian ownership, delivers real results for the population, and ensures that every partner knows where and how to contribute,” said Ramdin.

The plan will focus on five strategic pillars:

• Security stabilization

• Humanitarian response

• Political consensus

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• Electoral legitimacy

• Sustainable development

Haiti’s Permanent Representative to the OAS, Myrtha Désulme, addressed the meeting with a stark update on the country’s deteriorating situation. She called for “solidarity and urgent action” to support the Haitian people amid escalating violence and growing humanitarian needs.

Attendees included high-level representatives from across the region and global institutions:

• Jamaica’s Permanent Representative, Antony Anderson

• UN Special Representative and BINUH Chief, Carlos Ruiz Massieu

• Kenya’s Permanent Observer to the OAS, David Kerich

• MSS Executive Director, Mara Tekach

• Inter-American Development Bank President, Ilan Goldfajn

• PAHO Deputy Director, Mary Lou Valdez

• IICA Deputy Director General, Lloyd Day

• World Bank Fragility, Conflict and Violence Group Manager, Nabila Assaf

• PADF’s Sowmya Krishnamoorty

Discussions underscored the need for immediate funding for the MSS, expanded healthcare access, agricultural support to combat food insecurity, and efforts to revive economic opportunities.

Ramdin also proposed a donor conference, to be led by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), to ensure cohesive financial and logistical planning.

At the meeting’s conclusion, the OAS Secretary General reiterated the urgency of delivering tangible support to Haiti, urging the international community to match the gravity of the crisis with swift and coordinated action. He reaffirmed that all initiatives would remain firmly rooted within the principles of the OAS Charter.

The next step, Ramdin said, will be presenting the Roadmap to the OAS Permanent Council following further consultations with Haitian authorities and key partners.

“Elevating this initiative to a higher political level is crucial,” he said, pledging to keep all stakeholders informed as the effort moves forward.