Nations Pledge 5.3 Billion To Haiti Fund

New York — Governments from around the world exceeded expectations in their pledges to support the Haitian post-earthquake reconstructions today, as 5.3 billion dollars were promised over the next 2 years, and 9.9 billion earmarked for the next 10 years.The Haitian government was hoping to raise 3.9 billion dollars in order to begin the initial rebuilding process slated for the next 18 months.

“This signals a new level of global commitment, coordination and cooperation” said Co-chair of the conference Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her closing remarks at the conference. “We have the chance not only to contribute to Haiti’s progress but to demonstrate that the international community can achieve a new level of effectiveness and impact to test new approaches, use new technologies , engage one another to build stronger ties between our countries and people.”

Earlier in the day, the Secretary of State announced that the US would pledge 1.15 billion dollars over the next two years, the largest single contribution by any donor country. “This money will go towards supporting the government of Haiti’s plan to strengthen agriculture, energy,health, security and governance.” said the Secretary of State.

The 27 member states of the European Union also pledged approximately 1.5 Billion over the same period of time.

“This is extraordinarily significant, we have all done this together, Brazilians and Argentines leading MINUSTAH (United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Haiti ), the US and Canada and Mexico , all the Caribbean and Venezuela and Cuba. The only thing we all agree on is Haiti”, joked former President Bill Clinton, the United Nations Special Envoy to the country and co-chair of the Interim Haitian Reconstruction Committee.

But Haiti’s history of endemic corruption has raised doubts about whether or not the Haitian government will be able to ensure the money is well spent. Several NGO’s and members of civil society have recently criticized the Haitian government’s proposed plan for not having enough safeguards against corruption, accusations President Clinton tried to downplay.

“The Haitian government have not objected to transparency they just dont want it to interfere with their empowerment.So what we have done is settle on a model that is more or less like what we did during the tsunami.” said Clinton “It will be an open process and one I think will work very well.”

UN Officials Fear Afghan Surge Could Undermine Humanitarian Efforts

UN officials believe the living conditions of Afghan civilians will be harmed by an expected intensification of the conflict. They also note that recovery and reconstruction efforts in the country could be undermined by the widening conflict, as NATO and Afghan forces continue a major military operation in Helmand province.

"Afghanistan needs long term development and many donors support recovery and reconstruction efforts," said Robert Watkins, the Special Representative of the Secretary- General, as he outlined a new framework for the 2010 Humanitarian Action Plan (HAP)."However the impact is often undermined by emergency situations and conflicts”, Watkins said.

The current military surge in Helmand Province has already forced 10 000 civilians out of their homes.

Laurent Saillard, director of ACBAR( Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief ) also said he did not expect an improvement in the security situation for civilians in the country. “ We assume that, in regards to the military presence, there will be an intensification of the conflict, which will impact on the living conditions of civilians in Afghanistan.”

Amnesty International estimates the war claimed over 2400 civilian casualties last year, the highest total since 2001, when military operations first began.

The new HAP also addresses growing concerns over the use of aid as a political and strategic tool by the military, by increasing the role of NGO’s in the distribution of aid. “Distribution of humanitarian assistance should remain solely within the realm of humanitarian actors and not the military” said Watkins, “ The distribution of aid by military personnel gives the wrong signal to communities who then perceive all aid to be associated with the military. This has lead to threats of violence against the humanitarian community and hampered their ability to deliver needed services.”

Secretary General Says Gaza War Crimes Investigations Still Incomplete

UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon believes it is too early to say if Israel and the Palestinian Authority have properly investigated allegations of war crime during the Israeli Cast Lead operation in Gaza in December 2008 and January 2009.

Last November, a General Assembly resolution called on both parties to investigate, after the Goldstone report into the Gaza fighting suggested war crimes might have occurred on both sides and called for credible investigations by all parties involved.

In his report to the Assembly, Ban included documents form Israeli and Palestinian investigations and said he hoped “the resolution has served to encourage investigation by the government of Israel and the Palestinian side that are credible and in conformity with international standards."

However he concluded that: “the processes initiated are still ongoing…As such, no determination can be made on the implementation of the resolution by the parties concerned”

Human rights group Amnesty International criticized Ban for missing an opportunity to advance accountability in Gaza, arguing that the responses the Secretary General received clearly demonstrated that neither side had conducted investigations “that are independent, credible and in conformity with international standards”

The Secretary General’s spokesperson was unable to say if or when conclusive reports on the matter would be completed, stating that any further action was dependent on the General Assembly and member states.

Haiti: World Food Program Faces Most Difficult Challenge Ever

More than two weeks after the earthquake, humanitarian organizations are still trying to reach some of Haiti’s hardest hit areas. Speaking to reporters yesterday after having returned from Port-au-Prince, World Food Program(WFP) Chief Josette Sheeran said the situation was one of the most challenging, if not the most challenging, the organization had ever faced. “ The needs are quite vast and the supply chain of food getting in is a nightmare”said Sheeran, who now believes that the WFP will need to provide more food for a longer period of time than the organization had initially expected.

Although humanitarian corridors have already been open, the limited amount of entry points into the country, communication problems and road conditions have made distribution exceedingly difficult. Helicopter sling drops have been performed mainly in the country side but remain difficult to perform in large urban areas such as Port-au-Prince. World Food Program offices and warehouses have for the most part destroyed, and a majority of the staff already stationed in the country are working and living outside in the streets.

Sheeran also confirmed that riots had broken out at certain distribution sites and that UN and US security escorts were necessary to ensure that the weakest and most vulnerable have equal access to food and water. With nearly a million people in Port-au-Prince thought to be homeless, most of them with no access to cooking facilities, WFP is concentrating on distributing ready to use food such as high energy biscuits and supplementary plumpy. The organization has already delivered 8 million meals but has already drawn down most of its supplies and is know calling on the militaries of the world to donate as much ready to use food as they can spare.

Pence: Obama And Congress Should Focus On Jobs, Not Climate Change

By Meagan Wiseley - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (R-Ind.) told reporters at a pen and pad session Monday that U.S. President Barack Obama and Democrats in Congress should be focused on jobs and the economic recession, not climate change.

"House Republicans continue to believe that...jobs are the number one priority of the American people, and should be the number one priority of this Congress," Pence said.

According to a press release from Pence's office, the Republican leader believes President Obama should "address serious concerns before traveling to Copenhagen" for the United Nations global climate change summit.

"At the time of double-digit unemployment, the last thing our country needs is a jobs-killing cap and trade scheme on our families and small businesses by bureaucrats at the United Nations," the statement added.

In his remarks before reporters, Pence also said that if Obama enters the U.S. into a political agreement to reduce carbon emissions, U.S. small businesses would be at a "competitive disadvantage to those developing countries who have pledged to protect their growing economies from international carbon caps."