During a visit to Haiti on Monday, the U.S. ambassador to the country announced an additional $60 million in humanitarian assistance.

Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield also stated that the U.S. Defense Department would provide a significant increase in mine-resistant vehicles to a U.N.-backed, multinational security mission led by Kenya. This mission is aimed at supporting Haiti’s national police in combating widespread gang violence.

This announcement comes almost a week after a second contingent of 200 Kenyan police officers arrived in Haiti, following the initial deployment of 200 officers last month.

“We know that progress isn’t lineal. There will be inevitable setbacks and stumbling blocks, and yet this mission has opened a door to progress,” Thomas-Greenfield said.

She explained that the USAID assistance, which now totals over $165 million for the current fiscal year, will address gaps in nutrition, food security and shelter. It will also improve water and sanitation services and provide Haitians with financial support to purchase essential goods.

Earlier on Monday, Thomas-Greenfield met with Kenyan police and Haitian leaders during her one-day visit. The purpose of her visit was to encourage action regarding Haiti’s humanitarian crisis and political reform, aiming towards democratic elections that have yet to be scheduled.

“This isn’t a naïve sense of hope, but I do have a sense of hope. This has been a remarkable day on the ground,” she said.

The new transitional government led by Prime Minister Garry Conille, a former U.N. development specialist who assumed office in early June, has received widespread international support. Earlier this month, he told the U.N. Security Council that the Kenyan police will play a vital role in helping control the country’s gangs and facilitating the transition towards democratic elections.

Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse on July 7, 2021, gangs have gained significant power and are now estimated to control up to 80% of the capital and surrounding areas. The escalating violence, including killings, rapes and kidnappings, has led to a violent uprising by civilian vigilante groups.

According to U.N. agencies, the violence has displaced 580,000 people, more than half of whom are children. Additionally, 4 million people are facing food insecurity.

In late 2022, Haiti requested the immediate deployment of a foreign armed force to combat gangs. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres spent months urging countries to lead the force before Kenya stepped forward.

The multinational force, ultimately consisting of 2,500 personnel from Kenya, the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Chad, will be deployed in phases at an estimated annual cost of $600 million, according to the U.N. Security Council.

The U.S. has contributed over $300 million to the force, whose establishment was authorized by a U.N. resolution.

The Kenyan police will train the Haitian national police for joint security operations, which have not yet commenced.