The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday unanimously voted in favor of a resolution to increase the peacekeeping contingent in quake-hit Haiti by 1,500 police and 2,000 troops.
A 7.0-magnitude earthquake devastated Haiti last Tuesday. While the death toll is not yet known, there are fears that up to 200,000 people may have lost their lives.
The proposal to increase the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), which currently numbers just over 9,000 police and troops, came from Secretary General Ban Ki-moon amid increased reports of looting and other crimes in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince.
According to official reports, local police suffered heavy losses in the quake and are unable to cope with increasing crime.
The additional forces would be tasked mainly with ensuring safety during deliveries and distribution of humanitarian aid. The UN troops will also be deployed along the two major routes of aid deliveries.
The Dominican Republic has pledged to contribute some 800 personnel to the project. The country is the only state which has a land border with Haiti, and is worried by possible inflow of refugees.
The European Union is now discussing whether it should send 1,000 personnel to Haiti.
NEW YORK, January 19 (RIA Novosti)
