As part of the process of transition, during which the activities of the humanitarian coordination are gradually transferred to the Haitian authorities, a signing ceremony to formalize the revised guidelines for civil-military coordination took place in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in the presence of Major David Bazile, the Minister of Interior and Territorial Communities, of Peter de Clercq, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Lieutenant General Edson Leal Pujol, Force Commander of the UN Mission in Haiti (Minustah) and Sophie de Caen, Acting Coordinator of Humanitarian Action in Haiti.

In a note published by OCHA, the UN agency says "the Republic of Haiti constitutes a unique operating environment for humanitarian actors as well as the military and police forces. In addition to the major natural events, Haiti faced periods of insecurity. In this context, specific civil-military guidelines coordination for Haiti, have been developed for the first time in 2011. The guidelines were approved in 2011 by the humanitarian country team and the Force Commander of the Minustah. They provide the overarching framework of civil-military relations in Haiti."

"This event marks an important step in the transition process of the function of civil-military coordination," said Minister of the Interior, while reiterating the commitment of the Haitian government to take over the functions of coordination.

For her part, Sophie de Caen stressed "The approval of the revised guidelines on specific civil-military coordination for Haiti, will strengthen this coordination in Haiti and facilitate the promotion and knowledge of existing principles and operational modalities of civil-military coordination of all stakeholders concerned."

Lieutenant General Edson Leal Pujol, also highlighted the importance of these guidelines to facilitate the dialogue and interaction between civilian and military actors in the country.

Mrs. Caen concluded "The process of transition in which the humanitarian community is committed, also incorporates the civilian-military coordination, a function that is being transferred to the Directorate of Civil Protection (DPC) at the national and departmental level. The DPC will then gradually facilitate dialogue and interaction between government, humanitarian actors and the military and police forces, as part of a response in the event of major natural hazards, but also in other situations as a last resort of military and police forces may be requested."

HL/ SL/ HaitiLibre