Haiti: As Hurricanes Loom, UN Urges World to Give

Haiti needs continued generous support from the international community, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, said during a visit to Port-au-Prince Sunday. Just over two months after an earthquake destroyed much of the capital and surrounding areas, only 49 per cent of the $1.4 billion dollar flash appeal for funds to help reconstruction efforts has been subscribed by international donors.

“For the foreseeable future, the government will need international assistance to simply cover its payroll— teachers, police, doctors and nurses.” said Ban. “The international community has been extraordinarily generous. Our challenge is to maintain this spirit of solidarity through the upcoming donors conference and beyond. ” added Ban, after meeting Haitian President Rene Preval to discuss the agenda for the international donors conference at UN headquarters on March 31st.

Finding shelter for those left without a home by the quake is still a top priority, the Secretary General said. He estimated UN agencies have provided tents and tarps to approximately 60 percent of the 1.3 million people believed homeless and that the remaining number would get temporary shelter by the end of April.

“We are planning on building more durable collective or community housing for the largest number of people possible before the start of hurricane season in June. If there is one thing Haiti does not need, it is another humanitarian catastrophe.” Weather forecasters are already predicting an active hurricane season in the Atlantic this year.