Japan and OAS Grant Haiti $3 Million for Election Preparation Amidst Gang Violence
Japan and the Organization of American States (OAS) have signed an agreement to provide Haiti with a $3 million grant. This funding is specifically allocated to assist Haiti in preparing for its long-awaited general elections, the first in over a decade. The grant will support the Haitian government in updating voter lists and procuring 350,000 blank identification cards. Additionally, the OAS stated that the funds will help reduce the backlog of Haitians awaiting identification, expand services in rural communities, and improve power and internet connections in decentralized offices. This initiative comes as Haiti faces significant challenges, including widespread gang violence that has displaced approximately 1.5 million people, many of whom have lost their identification documents. Voter registration has already begun in Port-au-Prince, where an estimated 70% of the territory is under gang control. The first round of elections is tentatively scheduled for December 13, though experts suggest ongoing viol... 
