Global General

UN chief asks Security Council to boost troop force in Haiti

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-01-19 01:02

UNITED NATIONS：UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon on Monday requested the Security Council to boost the world body's presence in quake-stricken Haiti by dispatching more troops and police.

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UN chief asks Security Council to boost troop force in Haiti

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Emerging from a briefing to the Security Council on his latest visit to Haiti, Ban said he recommended the Council raise the number of UN police officers and troops in the Haiti mission by 1,500 and 2,000 respectively.

"Haiti needs immediate and urgent support, and requires massive response from the international community," said the secretary-general, who had just returned from a one-day visit to Haiti.

"From my conversation with people on the street yesterday, I heard a clear message. They said: 'We need the United Nations. We need jobs. We need food and water,'" he told reporters.

"Help has been arriving. More is coming in. But for those who have lost everything, I know that aid cannot come soon enough," he said.

Ban said he had visited Haiti with two aims -- to help ensure the coordination of the huge amount of aid that is pouring into the country, and to demonstrate solidarity with the people of Haiti and UN staff "during this time of profound need."