UN To Extend Mission in Haiti

A Haitin woman sells food on October 14, 2010 amid the rubble of what was once a commercial strip in downtown Port-au-Prince. (Thony Belizaire/AFP/Getty Images)

The United Nations Security Council voted on Thursday to extend its peacekeeping mission in Haiti for one year.

Haiti continues to need protection for its civilians, and in particular internally displaced persons, according to the United Nations.

Following a devastating earthquake in January, 1.3 million Haitians have been displaced and many live in tent camps, making the women and children especially vulnerable.

The U.N. Security Council said in a statement that it condemned “grave violations against children affected by armed violence, as well as widespread rape, and other sexual abuse of women and girls,” in Haiti.

Haitians will take to the polls next month for the country’s presidential election. Earlier this week the U.N. voiced concerns that arms were being distributed ahead of the election.