U.N. Security Council cuts size of Haiti peacekeeping force

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The U.N. Security Council on Friday approved for another year the world body’s peacekeeping force in Haiti, but it will be cut in size by about 15 percent as it hands over security responsibility to the Haitian national police. The 15-nation council unanimously approved a reduction of authorized troops and police by 1,710 to 8,871, as recommended by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. There are now about 10,000 U.N. peacekeepers in Haiti, and Ban recommended a gradual drawdown to be completed by June 2013. …

U.N. says Haiti struggling to cope with cholera as aid withdrawn

A girl receives treatment at a cholera treatment centre run by Doctors Without Borders, in Port-au-PrinceUNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon warned on Friday that Haiti was struggling to cope with a cholera epidemic that has killed thousands and deteriorating conditions in tent camps as aid groups withdraw from the impoverished country due to a lack of funding. In a report to the U.N. Security Council, Ban said there had been an increase in the number of cholera cases since the rainy season began in early March and the World Health Organization had projected there could be up to 112,000 cases during 2012. …