UNITED NATIONS (CMC) — The United Nations Security Council has agreed to a six-month extension of the mandate of the peacekeeping mission in Haiti.

The 15-member council has passed a resolution allowing for the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) — consisting of 2,370 troops and up to 2,601 police component personnel — to stay in the French-speaking Caribbean country through April 15, next year.

The UN said the mandate renewal comes in the wake of the humanitarian emergency caused by the October 4 passage of Hurricane Matthew that killed hundreds of people and caused widespread destruction. It also forced the postponement of the October 9 elections.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the Category Four storm had claimed the lives of 473 people, as of October 11, with 75 missing and 339 injured.

In the text adopted on Thursday, the UN Secretary General Bank Ki-moon is requested to conduct a strategic assessment mission of the situation in Haiti “by the end of the current mandate and preferably after the inauguration of a newly elected president,” and to present recommendations on the UN’s future presence and role in Haiti in his next report to the Security Council.

In that regard, the UN said the council affirmed its intention to consider the possible withdrawal of MINUSTAH and transition to a future UN presence “beginning no sooner than 15 April 2017”, based on its review of Haiti’s overall capacity to ensure security and stability and on the security conditions on the ground.

The resolution also states that the council strongly urged Haiti’s political actors “to work cooperatively in the interests of the Haitian people, joining forces in prioritising the country’s return to full constitutional normality by completing the electoral process, under way, and without further delays.

The council also calls for ensuring “the holding… of free, fair, inclusive, and transparent presidential election and partial reruns of the legislative elections, together with first-round elections for one-third of the Senate seats whose current incumbents will end their term in office in January 2017”.

With Haiti facing the dual challenges of addressing the impact of Hurricane Matthew and restarting preparations for the holding of the much-anticipated elections, the United Nations envoy for the Caribbean country earlier this week expressed support for the recommended extension of the UN mission there by six months until mid-April 2017.

“I call on all of Haiti’s international partners to continue to lend your support to the country to rapidly overcome the new challenges occasioned by the hurricane so that focus of all can be returned to strengthening the country’s economic, physical and institutional infrastructure,” said Sandra Honoré.

Ban had recommended MINUSTAH be extended for six months at the current force and police strength.

“This will allow MINUSTAH to support the Haitian authorities in their efforts to return to full constitutional order amidst the humanitarian crisis created by Hurricane Matthew,” Honoré said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Tourism in Haiti, the Haiti Tourism Association (ATH), and the National Network of Solidarity Tourism Operators (RENAPROTS) said that the country is now open for business.

While they expressed their sympathies to the victims of the hurricane, they noted, “as a nation we are already working relentlessly to bring support to our fellow citizens in this difficult time.

“We would also like to inform all international partners, and persons interested in visiting our beautiful and unique destination …that the Port-au-Prince and Cap Haitien international airports are open and fully operational”, and that 90 per cent of the tourism infrastructure has not been affected and is ready to welcome guests.