Haiti Running Out Of Time And Money Says UN official

Haiti faces several important short term challenges that will require immediate financial support from the international community if another humanitarian crisis is to be avoided, says Edmond Mulet, acting head of the United Nations mission in Haiti.

The UN estimates that over 1.3 million people in Port-au-Prince are still living in temporary shelter and large camps for internally displaced persons, where incidents of sexual abuse, crime and violence are rapidly growing despite increased police patrols. Mulet says the international community will have to redouble its efforts to make sure the most vulnerable are protected from predatory violence but also from the fast approaching rain and hurricane season.

“The rain and hurricane season will start soon. This may cause hundreds of thousands of Haitians who now live in tents, some made of sticks and cardboard, to lose everything. Lives are at stake.” said Mulet during a press conference in New York today.

On Wednesday, the Haitian Prime Minister will present his post earthquake reconstruction plan to an international donors conference co-chaired by UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

An assessment plan prepared by Haitian officials with the help of the international community estimates that 11.5 billion will be required to rebuild the country over the next 10 years, 3.9 billion of which will be needed in the next 18 months alone. The plan will provide the Haitian government with immediate budget support to pay salaries and provide basic social services. The United Nations estimates that 1500 educational institutions and more than 50 hospitals and healthcare centers were destroyed in the quake.

The Haitian government is also slated to play a greater role than it has in past development initiatives on the island, with UN officials emphasizing the importance of a process “for Haitians, by Haitians”.

“To be frank, this is not the first time member states meet to raise funds for Haiti. We hope that on this occasion, we will get it right. For to long the international community has bypassed national and local government institutions because of their perceived and real weaknesses,” said Mulet.

“The government of Haiti will be in the drivers seat and work together with the international community in single framework for quick delivery and mutual accountability.”