Security Council

6261^st Meeting (AM)

Security Council Boosts Force Levels for Military, Police Components

of United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti

 

Resolution 1908 (2010) Addresses Humanitarian, Security, Reconstruction Concerns

Recognizing the dire circumstances arising from last week’s devastating earthquake in Haiti, the Security Council endorsed this morning the Secretary-General’s recommendation to increase the force levels of the United Nations Mission there.

Unanimously adopting resolution 1908 (2001), the Council decided to raise the ceiling for the military component of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) from 6,940 to 8,940 troops, while increasing the limits of the police component from 2,211 to 3,711 personnel.  The Council would keep the new troop and police levels under review as necessary.

For its consideration today, Council members had before them a letter dated 18 January 2010 from the Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations, addressed to the President of the Security Council (document S/2010/27), which conveyed a working document on the situation in Haiti.

The document said the risk of humanitarian and security emergencies in Haiti would exist for some time to come, and requested the Council to consider restructuring and strengthening MINUSTAH, as well as other parts of the United Nations system in the impoverished country, to align it with current needs.

Council President Zhang Yesui (China), welcoming the adoption, said it would facilitate more effective implementation by MINUSTAH of the important tasks of maintaining peace and stability, supporting disaster relief efforts and helping to restore capacity-building and post-disaster reconstruction.

The meeting began at 10:12 a.m. and ended at 10:19 a.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 1908 (2010) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Reaffirming its previous resolutions on Haiti, in particular its resolutions 1892 (2009), 1840 (2008), 1780 (2007), 1743 (2007), 1702 (2006), 1658 (2006), 1608 (2005), 1576 (2004) and 1542 (2004),

“Expressing its deepest sympathy and solidarity to all those affected by the devastating earthquake of 12 January in Haiti and to their families,

“Further expressing its deepest gratitude for the work of United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) staff and troops, as well as for the work of the staffs of other United Nations and international organizations in Haiti,

“Recognizing the dire circumstances and urgent need for a response,

“Welcoming the efforts of Member States to support the Government and people of Haiti and MINUSTAH,

“1.   Endorses the recommendation made by the Secretary-General to increase the overall force levels of MINUSTAH to support the immediate recovery, reconstruction and stability efforts;

“2.   Decides, therefore, that MINUSTAH will consist of a military component of up to 8,940 troops of all ranks and of a police component of up to 3,711 police and that it will keep the new levels of troops and police in MINUSTAH under review as necessary;

“3.   Decides to remain seized of the matter.”

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For information media • not an official record