Deputy U.N. chief Amina Mohammed on Wednesday urged countries to urgently consider Haiti's request for an international specialized armed force to help restore security in the country and alleviate a humanitarian crisis.
"Now is certainly not the time for the world to turn away from Haiti," she told the U.N. Security Council. "It is time to step up and turn the current crisis into an opportunity for Haiti to bounce back stronger."
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in October proposed that one or several countries send "a rapid action force" to help Haiti's police remove a threat posed by armed gangs. He was not suggesting that the force be deployed by the United Nations.
So far though, no country has offered to lead such a force, though the Bahamas has said it could send troops or police if asked to do so.
Diplomats have also said some African countries were ready to offer support as well.
Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said: "We have doubts that the option of sending international military force can fundamentally change the situation."