The United States has not suspended all assistance to the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) in Haiti, the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince assured on Wednesday, February 5. This clarification comes just hours after the announcement of a freeze on the U.S. contribution to the UN-managed trust fund intended for the MSS. Some observers had interpreted this announcement as the end of U.S. financial support for the mission, of which they are the main contributors. On the contrary, the U.S. Embassy’s statement pointed out that Secretary of State Rubio had approved exemptions allowing for the provision of millions of dollars in critical assistance to the MSS mission and the Haitian National Police (PNH).

"The State Department has approved exemptions for $40.7 million in foreign assistance for the PNH and the MSS mission. This includes logistics contracts to support forward operating bases, a vehicle maintenance contract to sustain the MSS mission fleet, a medical services contract for the PNH, transport services for equipment deliveries provided by the State Department, and contracts supporting subject matter experts assigned to the PNH. As recently as yesterday, the United States delivered essential heavy armored equipment to the MSS mission and the PNH in Port-au-Prince," the statement reads.