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U.S. Department of State Urges International Security Deployment in Haiti After Murder of Missionary Couple
U.S. Department of State calls for international security deployment in Haiti after missionaries' murder, citing urgent need to address escalating violence.
A damaged building near Port-au-Prince (Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Daniel Barker)
The U.S. Department of State has called for the urgent deployment of an international security force to Haiti following the tragic murder of two U.S. missionaries by powerful gangs in the troubled Caribbean nation this week.
Natalie and Davy Lloyd, a married missionary couple, were ambushed and killed on Thursday night, along with a third person, as they left church.
The State Department spokesman, Matthew Miller, emphasized the dire security situation in Haiti, stating that “too many innocent lives are being lost.”
Haiti has been grappling with escalating turmoil since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021, with gangs now controlling large parts of the capital.
The violence has led to over half of the population facing hunger, and more than 300,000 people have been displaced from their homes due to the ongoing violence.
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Despite the United Nations authorizing a Kenyan-led security force intervention last year, its deployment has faced delays due to logistical and financial challenges.
Miller stated that the White House is actively working with Congress to expedite the deployment of this force, aiming to protect civilians, restore the rule of law, and pave the way for democratic governance in Haiti.
Natalie and Davy Lloyd were full-time missionaries with Missions in Haiti Inc., a faith-based group founded by Davy Lloyd’s parents. The couple's tragic deaths have prompted logistical challenges, with Missouri state Rep.
Ben Baker, Natalie's father, sharing on Facebook the difficulties in transporting their bodies due to the lack of embalming facilities in Haiti.
The State Department confirmed that the embassy in Port-au-Prince is providing assistance in the aftermath of the attack.
Missions in Haiti, on their Facebook page, recounted the harrowing ambush of the couple by gang members traveling in three trucks. Despite attempts to seek help from the police and negotiate with the gangs, the Lloyds and another individual named Jude were fatally shot during the ordeal.
The organization expressed devastation over the loss of the missionary couple, emphasizing the urgent need for improved security measures to prevent further tragedies in Haiti.
