Japan and the Organization of American States (OAS) have signed an agreement to provide Haiti with a $3 million grant aimed at facilitating voter registration for the country's upcoming general elections. This marks a significant step as Haiti prepares to hold elections for the first time in more than a decade.
The funds will be utilized by Haiti's government to update voter lists and procure 350,000 blank identification cards, according to an OAS statement. The need for new identification is pressing, as widespread gang violence has displaced an estimated 1.5 million people, many of whom fled their homes without essential documents.
The OAS indicated that the grant will also support efforts to reduce the backlog of Haitians awaiting identification, extend services to rural communities, and enhance power and internet connectivity in decentralized administrative offices.
Haiti's government commenced voter registration in the capital, Port-au-Prince, last month. However, gangs reportedly control approximately 70% of the territory within the city. The first round of elections is slated for December 13, though experts have cautioned that the persistent gang violence could lead to further postponements.
The country has been without a president since the assassination of Jovenel Moïse in July 2021. Moïse had assumed the presidency following the November 2016 elections.