: Building peace, preventing violence, and supporting community resilience in Haiti #IndiaNEWS #International A fund set up by the United Nations to build peace, prevent violence, reinforce justice,

Building peace, preventing violence, and supporting community resilience in Haiti #IndiaNEWS #International
A fund set up by the United Nations to build peace, prevent violence, reinforce justice, strengthen the rule of law and security institutions, and boost resilience amongst Haiti’s most vulnerable people, is supporting government efforts to restore security and stability in the country.

The UN Peacebuilding Fund, (PBF), which emphasizes the role of women and youth in peacebuilding efforts through their meaningful participation, began work in Haiti in 2019 in response to needs identified by the government.
Ahead of the International Day of Peace marked annually on 21 September, here are five things you need to know about the PBF.
Waging peace
Globally, the Peacebuilding Fund began work in 2006 in countries or situations at risk or affected by violent conflict. The UN Secretary-General António Guterres described it as “a critical vehicle to support resilience and prevention. �?
Between 2006 and 2021 the PBF allocated . 67 billion to 65 countries to sustain peace efforts. Haiti has received around m for nine projects. These interventions focus broadly on implementing and sustaining peace agreements, dialogue and peaceful coexistence and re-establishing basic services that can contribute to building peaceful societies.

UNDP Haiti/Borja Lopetegui Gonzalez
Gang violence in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, is terrorizing adults and children alike.

Violence, instability and insecurity
Instability and insecurity, propelled by stark inequalities, have been long-standing problems in Haiti and are the key reasons why the Government called for the support of the PBF.
The assassination of the Haitian president in July 2021 and a destructive earthquake in the south of the country a month later compounded the insecurity caused by the growing presence and influence of gangs.
This insecurity has worsened in the capital Port-au-Prince over the past year, as gang violence, exacerbated by the proliferation of illicit weapons and ammunitions, has intensified. The number of cases of kidnapping for ransom has also escalated.
In the commune of Cite Soleil, one of the capital’s poorest neighbourhoods, 99 people were killed and 133 injured during one particularly violent week of clashes in July between gangs vying for control of territory. Hundreds of houses were destroyed and thousands of people fled to safer localities, many of whom were supported by the United Nations.
Edwin* a youth leader living in Cite Soleil and who is part of a group of young people supported by the PBF, said that he witnessed heavy fighting in the streets adding that “I go to bed and wake up to the sound of gunfire which is very stressful.